When the soul centred in the heart's recess
Hath quaff'd its fill of Nature's loveliness,
Yet still beside the fountain's marge will stay
And fain would thirst again, again to quaff;
Then when the tear, slow travelling on its way,
Fills up the wrinkles of a silent laugh-
In that sweet mood of sad and humorous thought
A form within me rose, within me wrought
With such strong magic, that I cried aloud,
'Thou ancient Skiddaw by thy helm of cloud,
And by thy many-colour'd chasms deep,
And by their shadows that for ever sleep,
By yon small flaky mists that love to creep
Along the edges of those spots of light,

Those sunny islands on thy smooth green height,
And by yon shepherds with their sheep,
And dogs and boys, a gladsome crowd,
That rush e'en now with clamour loud
Sudden from forth thy topmost cloud,
And by this laugh, and by this tear,
I would, old Skiddaw, she were here!
A lady of sweet song is she,

Her soft blue eye was made for thee!
O ancient Skiddaw, by this tear,

I would, I would that she were here!'

Then ancient Skiddaw, stern and proud,

In sullen majesty replying,
Thus spake from out his helm of cloud
(His voice was like an echo dying!):-
'She dwells belike in scenes more fair,
And scorns a mount so bleak and bare.'

I only sigh'd when this I heard,
Such mournful thoughts within me stirr'd
That all my heart was faint and weak,
So sorely was I troubled!

No laughter wrinkled on my cheek,
But O the tears were doubled!
But ancient Skiddaw green and high
Heard and understood my sigh;

8 wrinkles] wrinkle 1801.

sunshine 1801.

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

32 in] by 1801.

And now, in tones less stern and rude,
As if he wish'd to end the feud,
Spake he, the proud response renewing
(His voice was like a monarch wooing):-
Nay, but thou dost not know her might,
The pinions of her soul how strong!
But many a stranger in my height
Hath sung to me her magic song,
Sending forth his ecstasy

In her divinest melody,

And hence I know her soul is free,
She is where'er she wills to be,

45

50

Unfetter'd by mortality!

Now to the "haunted beach" can fly,'

55

Beside the threshold scourged with waves,

Now where the maniac wildly raves,

"Pale moon, thou spectre of the sky!" 2
No wind that hurries o'er my height
Can travel with so swift a flight.

I too, methinks, might merit
The presence of her spirit!

To me too might belong

The honour of her song and witching melody,
Which most resembles me,

Soft, various, and sublime,

Exempt from wrongs of Time!'

Thus spake the mighty Mount, and I
Made answer, with a deep-drawn sigh:-
"Thou ancient Skiddaw, by this tear,
I would, I would that she were here!'
November, 1800.

60

65

70

''The Haunted Beach,' by Mrs. Robinson, was included in the Annual Anthology for 1800.

' From 'Jasper', a ballad by Mrs. Robinson, included in the Annual Anthology for 1800.

57 Now to the maniac while he raves 1801.

1800.

ALCAEUS TO SAPPHO1

How sweet, when crimson colours dart
Across a breast of snow,

To see that you are in the heart
That beats and throbs below.

All Heaven is in a maiden's blush,
In which the soul doth speak,
That it was you who sent the flush
Into the maiden's cheek.

Large steadfast eyes! eyes gently rolled
In shades of changing blue,

How sweet are they, if they behold

No dearer sight than you.

The world will surely answer, No!

I, SAPPHO, answer, Yes!

Then grant one smile, tho' it should mean

A thing of doubtful birth;

That I may say these eyes have seen

The fairest face on earth!

THE TWO ROUND SPACES ON THE TOMBSTONE 2

THE Devil believes that the Lord will come,
Stealing a march without beat of drum,

'First published in the Morning Post, November 24, 1800: reprinted in Letters from the Lake Poets, 1889, p. 16. It is probable that these lines, sent in a letter to Daniel Stuart (Editor of the Morning Post), dated October 7, 1800, were addressed to Mrs. Robinson, who was a frequent contributor of verses signed 'Sappho'. A sequence of Sonnets entitled 'Sappho to Phaon' is included in the collected edition of her Poems, 1806, iii. 63-107. 'First published in the Morning Post, December 4, 1800: reprinted in Fraser's Magazine both in February and in May, 1833, and in Payne Collier's Old Man's Diary, i. 35. First collected in P. W., 1834, with the

Two Round Spaces, &c.-Title] Skeltoniad (To be read in the Recitative Lilt) MS. Letter: The Two Round Spaces; A Skeltoniad M. P.

1 The Devil believes the Fraser (1).

About the same time that he came last,

On an Old Christmas-day in a snowy blast:

Till he bids the trump sound neither body nor soul stirs, 5 For the dead men's heads have slipt under their bolsters.

Oh! ho! brother Bard, in our churchyard,

Both beds and bolsters are soft and green;

Save one alone, and that's of stone,

And under it lies a Counsellor keen.

'Twould be a square tomb, if it were not too long;
And 'tis fenced round with irons sharp, spear-like, and strong.

This fellow from Aberdeen hither did skip
With a waxy face and a blubber lip,

following Prefatory Note :-'See the apology for the "Fire, Famine, and Slaughter", in first volume. This is the first time the author ever published these lines. He would have been glad, had they perished; but they have now been printed repeatedly in magazines, and he is told that the verses will not perish. Here, therefore, they are owned, with a hope that they will be taken-as assuredly they were composed-in mere sport.' These lines, which were directed against Sir James Mackintosh, were included in a letter to [Sir] Humphry Davy, dated October 9, 1800. There is a MS. version in the British Museum in the handwriting of R. Heber, presented by him to J. Mitford. Mr. Campbell questions the accuracy of Coleridge's statement with regard to his never having published the poem on his own account. But it is possible that Davy may have sent the lines to the Press without Coleridge's authority. Daniel Stuart, the Editor of the Morning Post, in the Gentleman's Magazine for May, 1838, says that Coleridge sent one [poem] attacking Mackintosh, too obviously for me not to understand it, and of course it was not published. Mackintosh had had one of his front teeth broken and the stump was black'. Stuart remembered that the lines attacking his brother-in-law had been suppressed, but forgot that he had inserted the rest of the poem. The poem as printed in 1893, despite the heading, does not follow the text of the Morning Post.

Brother Collier.

3 time] hour MS. Letter, M. P., Fraser (1), Collier. At the same hour MS. H. 4 an Old] a cold Fraser (1): On Old MS. H. 5 neither] nor MS. Letter, M. P. Till he bids the trump blow nor Fraser (2): Till the trump then shall sound no Collier: Until that time not a body or MS. H. 6 their] the Collier. 7 Oh! ho!] Ho! Ho! M. P., MS. H.: Oho Fraser (1). our] our MS. Letter. 8 Both bed and bolster Fraser (2). The graves and bolsters MS. H. 9 Except one alone MS. H. 10 under] in Fraser (2). 11 This tomb would be square M. P.: 'Twould be a square stone if it were not so long Fraser (1). It would be square MS. H. tomb] grave Collier. 12 And 'tis railed round with iron tall M. P.: And 'tis edg'd round with iron Fraser (1): 'Tis fenc'd round with irons tall Fraser (2): And 'tis fenc'd round with iron tall Collier. 'tis] its MS. H..

M. P.

13-20 om.

13 From Aberdeen hither this fellow MS. Letter hither] here Fraser (2). 14 blubber] blabber MS. Letter, Fraser (1), (2), MS. H.

And a black tooth in front, to show in part
What was the colour of his whole heart.
This Counsellor sweet,

This Scotchman complete,

(The Devil scotch him for a snake!)
I trust he lies in his grave awake.
On the sixth of January,

When all around is white with snow,

As a Cheshire yeoman's dairy,

Brother Bard, ho! ho! believe it, or no,
On that stone tomb to you I'll show

Two round spaces void of snow.

I swear by our Knight, and his forefathers' souls,

That in size and shape they are just like the holes
In the house of privity

Of that ancient family.

On those two places void of snow,

There have sat in the night for an hour or so,
Before sunrise, and after cock-crow,

15

20

25

30

He kicking his heels, she cursing her corns,

All to the tune of the wind in their horns,
The Devil and his Grannam,

35

M. P.

With a snow-blast to fan 'em;
Expecting and hoping the trumpet to blow,
For they are cock-sure of the fellow below!

1800.

15 in front] before MS. H. 17 Counsellor] lawyer so MS. H. 19 The Devil] Apollyon MS. Letter. scotch] scotch Collier. 20 trust] hope Collier, (A humane wish) Note in MS. Letter. 21 sixth] seventh M. P., Collier: fifth MS. H. 22 When all is white both high and low MS. Letter, M. P., Fraser (2), Collier, MS. H.: When the ground All around Is as white as snow Fraser (1). 23 As] Or Fraser (1): Like MS. H. 24 ho! ho!] oho! Fraser (1). it] me 25 stone] tall MS. Letter, M. P., Fraser (2), Collier. On the stone to you MS. H. 25-6 om. Fraser (1). Between 25-6 After sunset and before cockcrow M. P. Before sunrise and after cockcrow Fraser (2). 26 void] clear M. P. 27 I swear by the might Of the darkness of night, I swear by the sleep of our forefathers' souls Fraser (1). souls] soul MS. H. 26-8 om. Fraser (2). 28 Both in shape and size MS. Letter: Both in shape and in size M.P.: That in shape and size they resembled Fraser (1), Collier: That in shape and size they are just like the Hole MS.H. 29 In the large house M.P. In mansions not seen by the general eye Of that right ancient family. Fraser (1).

29-30

31 two] round MS. Letter. places] spaces Collier, MS. H. void] clear M. P. 32 Have sat Fraser (1), (2): There have sat for an hour MS. H. 33 om. MS. Letter, M.P. 36 Devil] De'il M. P. 37 With the snow-drift M. P.: With a snow-blast to fan MS. Letter. 38 Expecting and wishing the trumpet would blow Collier.