And teach the Soul her native Calm; The Sigh, that saddens and endears, 20 25 30 Then cease, thy frantic Tumults cease, WHO DESERTED HIM IN QUEST OF A MORE WEALTHY HUSBAND IN THE EAST INDIES THE dubious light sad glimmers o'er the sky: 1 First published in 1893, from MS. Letter, Feb. 13 [1792]. 17 her] its W. 21-2 18 languid] waning.W. 19 Hangs] Bends W'. As slow the whisper'd measure creeps Along the steaming Vale. W. 24 grows turns W. Demon, WAR IV, 31 Tumults] outrage W. 32 Thou scepter'd 35 oh] ah W. 38 chilly] flowrets' W. Thus could you sport with my too easy heart? 1792. WITH FIELDING'S AMELIA'1 What every wife should be, what many are. With double pleasure on the page shall dwell, In all but sorrows shall Amelias be! ? 1792. WRITTEN AFTER A WALK BEFORE SUPPER 3 THO' much averse, dear Jack, to flicker, To find a likeness for friend V-ker, I've made thro' Earth, and Air, and Sea, A Voyage of Discovery! And let me add (to ward off strife) For V-ker and for V-ker's Wife-. 1 First published in 1834. 5 It is probable that the recipient of the Amelia was the mother of Coleridge's first love, Mary Evans. First published in 1796, and secondly in P. and D. W., 1877-80. These lines, described as 'A Simile', were sent in a letter to the Rev. George Coleridge, dated August 9 [1792]. The Rev. Fulwood Smerdon, the 'Vicar' of the original MS., succeeded the Rev. John Coleridge as vicar of Ottery St. Mary in 1781. He was the 'Edmund' of 'Lines to a Friend', &c., vide post, pp. 74, 75. With Fielding's 'Amelia '-Title] Sent to Mrs. 10 double] doubled MS. 0. with an Amelia. MS. 0. Written after, &c.-Title] Epistle iii. Written, &c., 1796. 1 dear Jack] at folk Letter, 1792. 2 A simile for Vicar Letter, 1792. 6 For Vicar and for Vicar's wife Letter, 1792. 7 large] gross Letter, 1792. 1792. Her mind and body of a piece, And both composed of kitchen-grease. In short, Dame Truth might safely dub her He, meagre bit of littleness, All snuff, and musk, and politesse; So thin, that strip him of his clothing, Ah then, what simile will suit? Thus I humm'd and ha'd awhile, When Madam Memory with a smile Thus twitch'd my ear-Why sure, I ween, A little Ape with huge She-Bear An unlick'd mass the one-the other An antic small with nimble crupper- IMITATED FROM OSSIAN1 THE stream with languid murmur creeps, Beneath the dew the Lily weeps Slow-waving to the gale. 10 15 20 25 30 First published in 1796: included in 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834. The following note was attached in 1796 and 1803:-The flower hangs its [heavy] head waving at times to the gale. Why dost thou awake me, O Gale?' it seems to say, 'I am covered with the drops of Heaven. The time of my fading is near, the blast that shall scatter my leaves. To morrow shall the traveller come; he that saw me in my beauty_shall His eyes will search the field, [but] they will not find me. So shall they search in vain for the voice of Cona, after it has failed in the field.'-Berrathon, see Ossian's Poems, vol. ii. [ed. 1819, p. 481]. come. 12 enshrin'd enclos'd 19 will] can Letter, 1792. 23 I ha'd and hem'd Letter, 1792. 24 Madam Mrs. Letter, 1792. 28 huge] large Letter, 29 Link'd] Tied Letter, 1792. 31 small] lean Letter, 1792: huge 1796, 1877, 1888, 1893. For Antic huge read antic small Errata', 1796 p. [189]. Imitated, &c.-Title] Ode MS. E. 1792. 1793. 'Cease, restless gale!' it seems to say, 'To-morrow shall the Traveller come With eager gaze and wetted cheek My wonted haunts along, Thus, faithful Maiden! thou shalt seek But I along the breeze shall roll And dwell, the Moon-beam of thy soul, THE COMPLAINT OF NINATHÓMA1 FROM THE SAME How long will ye round me be swelling, And they blesséd the white-bosom'd Maid! A Ghost! by my cavern it darted! In moon-beams the Spirit was drest 1 First published in 1796: included in 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834. These lines were included in a letter from Coleridge to Mary Evans, dated Feb. 7, 1793. In 1796 and 1803 the following note was attached :'How long will ye roll around me, blue-tumbling waters of Ocean. My dwelling is not always in caves; nor beneath the whistling tree. My [The] feast is spread in Torthoma's Hall. [My father delighted in my voice.] The youths beheld me in [the steps of] my loveliness. They blessed the dark-haired Nina-thomà.'-Berrathon [Ossian's Poems, 1819, ii. 484]. 10 That erst, &c. MS. E. 15 faithful] lovely MS. E. 16 simplest] gentle MS. E. The Complaint, &c.-Title] Effusion xxx. The Complaint, &c., 1796. 5 halls] Hall Letter, 1793. 8 white-bosom'd] dark-tressed Letter, 1793. Between 8-9 By my friends, by my Lovers discarded, Like the flower of the Rock now I waste That lifts her fair head unregarded, And scatters its leaves on the blast. Letter, 1793. For lovely appear the Departed When they visit the dreams of my rest! 1793. SONGS OF THE PIXIES1 15 THE Pixies, in the superstition of Devonshire, are a race of beings invisibly small, and harmless or friendly to man. At a small distance from a village in that county, half-way up a wood-covered hill, is an excavation called the Pixies' Parlour. The roots of old trees form its ceiling; and on its sides are innumerable cyphers, among which the author discovered his own cypher and those of his brothers, cut by the hand of their childhood. At the foot of the hill flows the river Otter. To this place the Author, during the summer months of the year 1793, conducted a party of young ladies; one of whom, of stature elegantly small, and of complexion colourless yet clear, was proclaimed the Faery Queen. On which occasion the following Irregular Ode was written. I WHOм the untaught Shepherds call Fancy's children, here we dwell: Welcome, Ladies! to our cell. Here the wren of softest note Builds its nest and warbles well; 5 1 First published in 1796: included in 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834. The Songs of the Pixies forms part of the volume of MS. Poems presented to Mrs. Estlin, and of a quarto MS. volume which the poet retained for his own use. 13 disturb'd] dispers'd Letter, 1793. Songs of the Pixies] This preface appears in all editions. Previous to 1834 the second paragraph read:-To this place the Author conducted a party of young Ladies, during the Summer months of the year 1793, &c. The Songs of the Pixies, an irregular Ode. The lower orders of the people in Devonshire have a superstition concerning the existence of Pixies', a race of beings supposed to be invisibly small, and harmless or friendly to man. At a small village in the county, half-way up a Hill, is a large excavation called the 'Pixies'' Parlour. The roots of the trees growing above it form the ceiling-and on its sides are engraved innumerable cyphers, among which the author descried his own and those of his Brothers, cut by the rude hand of their childhood. At the foot of the Hill flows the River Otter. To this place the Author had the Honour of conducting a party of Young Ladies during the Summer months, on which occasion the following Poem was written. MS. E. |