ABSTRACT
Presumably composed during S.’s first visit to Ireland, 12 February-4 April 1812; probably early, as S. does not identify Emmet’s memorial (uninscribed and so not a ‘speaking stone’) but introduces Emmet as an example while speculating about death and immortality in the manner of his letters of summer 1811 and of Southey’s The Dead Friend’ (1799) 9–11: The Spirit is not there! It is but lifeless perishable flesh That moulders in the grave
