35 .-- Ed.] [Footnote e: Compare Shakespeare, 'Sonnets', 16: 'Now stand you on the top of happy hours.' Ed.] [Footnote f: In 1790, most of what could be shaken in the order of European, and especially of French society and government, _was_ shaken and changed.

By the new constitution of 1790, to which the French king took an oath of fidelity, his power was reduced to a shadow, and two years later France became a Republic.
"We crossed at the time," wrote Wordsworth to his sister, "when the whole nation was mad with joy in consequence of the Revolution." Ed.] [Footnote g: "We went staff in hand, without knapsacks, and carrying each his needments tied up in a pocket handkerchief, with about twenty pounds a-piece in our pockets." W.W.

('Autobiographical Memoranda.)--Ed.] [Footnote h: July 14, 1790.
"We crossed from Dover and landed at Calais, on the eve of the day when the King was to swear fidelity to the new constitution: an event which was solemnised with due pomp at Calais." W.W.

('Autobiographical Memoranda.') See also the sonnet "dedicated to National Independence and Liberty," vol.ii.p.

332.