The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume I Part 23

Departed Merit claims a reverent tear.

Friend to the friendless, to the sick man health, 5 With generous joy he view'd his modest wealth; He heard the widow's heaven-breath'd prayer of praise, He mark'd the shelter'd orphan's tearful gaze, Or where the sorrow-shrivell'd captive lay, Pour'd the bright blaze of Freedom's noon-tide ray. 10 Beneath this roof if thy cheer'd moments pa.s.s, Fill to the good man's name one grateful gla.s.s: To higher zest shall Memory wake thy soul, And Virtue mingle in the enn.o.bled bowl.

But if, like me, through Life's distressful scene 15 Lonely and sad thy pilgrimage hath been; And if thy breast with heart-sick anguish fraught, Thou journeyest onward tempest-tossed in thought; Here cheat thy cares! in generous visions melt, And _dream_ of Goodness, thou hast never felt! 20

1794.

FOOTNOTES:

[57:1] First published in the _Cambridge Intelligencer_, September 27, 1794: included in _A Pedestrian Tour through North Wales_. By J. Hucks, 1795, p. 15: 1796, 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834.

In a letter to Southey dated July 13, 1794, Coleridge writes:--'At Ross . . . we took up our quarters at the King's Arms, once the house of Kyrle, the Man of Ross. I gave the window-shutter the following effusion--"Richer than Misers" etc.' J. Hucks, in his _Tour_, 1795, p.

15, writes to the same effect. There are but slight variations in the text as printed in the _Cambridge Intelligencer_ and in Hucks' _Tour_.

In 1796 lines 5-10 of the text, which were included in _A Monody on the Death of Chatterton_ (1796), are omitted, and the poem numbered only fourteen lines. In 1797 lines 5-10 were restored to the _Man of Ross_ and omitted from the _Monody_. The poem numbered twenty lines. In 1803 lines 5-10 were again omitted from the _Man of Ross_, but not included in the _Monody_. The poem numbered fourteen lines. The text of 1828, 1829 is almost identical with that of 1834.

Four MS. versions are extant, (1) the Letter to Southey, July 13, 1794; (2) the Estlin Copy-book; (3) the Morrison MSS.; (4) the MS. 4{o} Copy-book.

LINENOTES:

t.i.tle] Written . . . Mr. Kyrle, 'the Man of Ross'. MS. E.

[1] Misers o'er their Letter, 1794, J. H., MS. E, 1808.

[4] the glistening tear Letter, 1794: a] the J. H., MS. E. Lines 5-10 are not in MS. 4{o}, 1796, 1803: in 1797 they follow l. 14 of the text.

[5] to the poor man wealth, Morrison MSS.

[7] heard] hears 1797, 1828, 1829.

[8] mark'd] marks 1797, 1828.

[9] And o'er the dowried maiden's glowing cheek, Letter, 1794, Morrison MSS.: virgin's snowy cheek, J. H., MS. E.

[10] Bade bridal love suffuse its blushes meek. Letter, 1794, MS. E, Morrison MSS. Pour'd] Pours 1797, 1828, 1829.

[11] If 'neath this roof thy wine cheer'd moments pa.s.s Letter, J. H., MS. E, MS. 4{o}, 1803.

[14] enn.o.bled] sparkling Letter, 1794.

[15] me] mine 1803.

IMITATED FROM THE WELSH[58:1]

If while my pa.s.sion I impart, You deem my words untrue, O place your hand upon my heart-- Feel how it throbs for _you_!

Ah no! reject the thoughtless claim 5 In pity to your Lover!

That thrilling touch would aid the flame It wishes to discover.

? 1794.

FOOTNOTES:

[58:1] First published in 1796: included in 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834.

LINENOTES:

t.i.tle] Song MS. E: Effusion x.x.xi. Imitated &c., 1796.

LINES[58:2]

TO A BEAUTIFUL SPRING IN A VILLAGE

Once more! sweet Stream! with slow foot wandering near, I bless thy milky waters cold and clear.

Escap'd the flas.h.i.+ng of the noontide hours, With one fresh garland of Pierian flowers (Ere from thy zephyr-haunted brink I turn) 5 My languid hand shall wreath thy mossy urn.

For not through pathless grove with murmur rude Thou soothest the sad wood-nymph, Solitude; Nor thine unseen in cavern depths to well, The Hermit-fountain of some dripping cell! 10 Pride of the Vale! thy useful streams supply The scatter'd cots and peaceful hamlet nigh.

The elfin tribe around thy friendly banks With infant uproar and soul-soothing pranks, Releas'd from school, their little hearts at rest, 15 Launch paper navies on thy waveless breast.

The rustic here at eve with pensive look Whistling lorn ditties leans upon his crook, Or, starting, pauses with hope-mingled dread To list the much-lov'd maid's accustom'd tread: 20 She, vainly mindful of her dame's command, Loiters, the long-fill'd pitcher in her hand.

Unboastful Stream! thy fount with pebbled falls The faded form of past delight recalls, What time the morning sun of Hope arose, 25 And all was joy; save when another's woes A transient gloom upon my soul imprest, Like pa.s.sing clouds impictur'd on thy breast.

Life's current then ran sparkling to the noon, Or silvery stole beneath the pensive Moon: 30 Ah! now it works rude brakes and thorns among, Or o'er the rough rock bursts and foams along!

1794.

FOOTNOTES:

[58:2] First published in 1796: included in _Annual Register_, 1796: 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834.

LINENOTES:

t.i.tle] Lines addressed to a Spring in Village of Kirkhampton near Bath MS. E.

[7] groves in murmurs MS. E.

[21-2]

And now essays his simple Faith to prove By all the soft solicitudes of Love.