Note 1. I cannot convince myself that the fifth line of the last stanza does not contain a pun on his own name, which was pronounced like the participle “done.” Walton tells us “that he caused it to be set to a most grave and solemn tune, and to be often sung to the organ by the choristers of St Paul’s Church in his own hearing, especially at the evening service, and at his return from his customary devotions in that place did occasionally say to a friend, ‘The words of this hymn have restored to me the same thoughts of joy that possessed my soul in my sickness when I composed it.’” [back]
