Mutter'd to wretch by necromantic spell; Or of those hags, who at the witching time Of murky Midnight ride the air sublime, And mingle foul embrace with fiends of Hell: Cold Horror drinks its blood! Anon the tear Even such the shiv'ring joys thy tones impart, 5 10 IX TO WILLIAM GODWIN1 AUTHOR OF POLITICAL JUSTICE' O FORM'D t' illume a sunless world forlorn, Electric pours a stream of rosy light, Pleas'd I have mark'd OPPRESSION, terror-pale, Since, thro' the windings of her dark machine, Thy steady eye has shot its glances keenAnd bade th' All-lovely 'scenes at distance hail'. Nor will I not thy holy guidance bless, And hymn thee, GODWIN! with an ardent lay; Bade the bright form of Justice meet my way— 5 10 1 First published in the Morning Chronicle, January 10, 1795. First collected, P. and D. W., 1877, i. 143. The last six lines were sent in a letter to Southey, dated December 17, 1794. Letters of S. T. C., 1895, i. 117. 2 Aurora Borealis. Mrs. Siddons-6 Of Warlock Hags that M. C. OF BALIOL COLLEGE, OXFORD, AUTHOR OF THE 'RETROSPECT', AND OTHER POEMS SOUTHEY! thy melodies steal o'er mine ear Of wild bees in the sunny showers of Spring- The lonely breast, yet rouse a mindful tear: Wak'd by the Song doth Hope-born FANCY fling Thy sadder strains, that bid in MEMORY's Dream Then soft, on Love's pale cheek, the tearful gleam Of Pleasure smiles-as faint yet beauteous lies XI 2 TO RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN, ESQ. Ir was some Spirit, SHERIDAN! that breath'd 1 First published in the Morning collected, P. and D. W., 1877, i. 142. Southey, dated December 17, 1794. 5 10 Chronicle, January 14, 1795. First 2 First published in the Morning Chronicle, January 29, 1795: included in 1796, 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834, Two MS. versions are extant; one in a letter to Southey, dated December 9, 1794 (Letters of S. T. C., 1895, To R. B. Sheridan-Title] To Sheridan MS. E: Effusion vi. 1796: Sonnet xi. 1803: Sonnet v. 1828, 1829, 1834. 1-5 1-2 1-3 Some winged Genius, Sheridan! imbreath'd Some winged Genius, Sheridan ! imbreath'd My soul hath mark'd thee in her shaping hour, Now patriot Rage and Indignation high Swell the full tones! And now thine eye-beams dance 10 Meanings of Scorn and Wit's quaint revelry! Writhes inly from the bosom-probing glance The Apostate by the brainless rout ador'd, As erst that elder Fiend beneath great Michael's sword. January 29, 1795. i. 118), and a second in the Estlin copy-book. In 1796 a note to line 4 was included in Notes, p. 179, and in 1797 and 1803 affixed as a footnote, p. 95:- Hymettian Flowrets. Hymettus, a mountain near Athens, celebrated for its honey. This alludes to Mr. Sheridan's classical attainments, and the following four lines to the exquisite sweetness and almost Italian delicacy of his poetry. In Shakespeare's Lover's Complaint there is a fine stanza almost prophetically characteristic of Mr. Sheridan. So on the tip of his subduing tongue Hymettus, a mountain of Attica famous for honey. M. C. 8 wafts] bears MS. Letter, 1794, M. C., MS. E. 9 Rage] Zeal MS. Letter, to thine] his Letter, 1794, M. C. 1794, MS. E, M. C. 12 While inly writhes from the Soul-probing glance M. C. 14 elder] other M. C. 5 ON READING HIS LATE PROTEST IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ['MORNING CHRONICLE,' JAN. 31, 1795] STANHOPE! I hail, with ardent Hymn, thy name! Shall grave:-'Here sleeps the Friend of Humankind!' Still watch th' expiring flame of Liberty! O Patriot! still pursue thy virtuous way, 1795. ONE OF THE PEOPLE. TO EARL STANHOPE 2 NOT, STANHOPE! with the Patriot's doubtful name Thyself redeeming from that leprous stain, Pourest thine Abdiel warnings on the train That sit complotting with rebellious pride 5 IO 5 1 First collected in 1893. Mr. Campbell assigned the authorship of the Sonnet to Coleridge, taking it to be the original of the one to Stanhope printed in the Poems of 1796 and 1803'. For 'Corruption's bowl' (1. 6) see Sonnet to Burke, line 9 (ante, p. 80). 2 First published in 1796: included in 1803, in Cottle's Early Rec. i. 203, and in Rem. 1848, p. 111. First collected in 1852. To Earl Stanhope-Title] Effusion x. 1796 (To Earl Stanhope Contents): Sonnet xvi. 1803: Sonnet ix. 1852. 'Gainst Her who from the Almighty's bosom leapt And thou from forth its clouds shalt hear the voice, 1795. LINES 2 TO A FRIEND IN ANSWER TO A MELANCHOLY LETTER AWAY, those cloudy looks, that labouring sigh, Yon setting Sun flashes a mournful gleam Wild, as the autumnal gust, the hand of Time Bears on its wing each hour a load of Fate; 15 To-day may rule a tempest-troubled State. Nor shall not Fortune with a vengeful smile There shiv'ring sad beneath the tempest's frown ? 1795. 1 Gallic Liberty. First published in 1796 included in 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834. Lines, &c.-Title] Epistle II. To a Friend, &c. 1796: To a Friend, &c. 20 |