The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 187

Now first published from an MS.

28

The spruce and limber yellow-hammer In the dawn of spring and sultry summer, In hedge or tree the hours beguiling With notes as of one who bra.s.s is filing.

1807. Now first published from an MS.

29

FRAGMENT OF AN ODE ON NAPOLEON

O'erhung with yew, midway the Muses mount From thy sweet murmurs far, O Hippocrene!

Turbid and black upboils an angry fount Tossing its shatter'd foam in vengeful spleen-- Phlegethon's rage Cocytus' wailings hoa.r.s.e Alternate now, now mixt, made known its headlong course: Thither with terror stricken and surprise, (For sure such haunts were ne'er to Muse's choice) Euterpe led me. Mute with asking eyes I stood expectant of her heavenly voice.

Her voice entranc'd my terror and made flow In a rude understrain the maniac fount below.

'Whene'er (the G.o.ddess said) abhorr'd of Jove Usurping Power his hands in blood imbrues--

? 1808. Now first published from an MS.

30

The singing Kettle and the purring Cat, The gentle breathing of the cradled Babe, The silence of the Mother's love-bright eye, And tender smile answering its smile of Sleep.

1803. First published from an MS. in 1893.

31

Two wedded hearts, if ere were such, Imprison'd in adjoining cells, Across whose thin part.i.tion-wall The builder left one narrow rent, And where, most content in discontent, A joy with itself at strife-- Die into an intenser life.

1808. First published from an MS. in 1893.

ANOTHER VERSION

The builder left one narrow rent, Two wedded hearts, if ere were such, Contented most in discontent, Still there cling, and try in vain to touch!

O Joy! with thy own joy at strife, That yearning for the Realm above Wouldst die into intenser Life, And Union absolute of Love!

1808. First published from an MS. in 1893.

32

Sole Maid, a.s.sociate sole, to me beyond Compare all living creatures dear-- Thoughts, which have found their harbour in thy heart Dearest! _me_ thought of _him_ to thee so dear!

1809. First published from an MS. in 1893.

33

EPIGRAM ON KEPLER

FROM THE GERMAN

No mortal spirit yet had clomb so high As Kepler--yet his Country saw him die For very want! the _Minds_ alone he fed, And so the _Bodies_ left him without bread.

1799. First published in _The Friend_, Nov. 30, 1809 (1818, ii. 95; 1850, ii. 69). First collected _P. and D. W._, 1877, ii. 374.

LINENOTES:

[1] spirit] Genius MS.

[2] yet] and MS.

[3] _Minds_] _Souls_ MS. erased.

34

When Hope but made Tranquillity be felt: A flight of Hope for ever on the wing But made Tranquillity a conscious thing; And wheeling round and round in sportive coil, Fann'd the calm air upon the brow of Toil.

1810. First published from an MS. in 1893.

35

I have experienced The worst the world can wreak on me--the worst That can make Life indifferent, yet disturb With whisper'd discontent the dying prayer-- I have beheld the whole of all, wherein _My_ heart had any interest in this life To be disrent and torn from off my Hopes That nothing now is left. Why then live on?

That hostage that the world had in its keeping Given by me as a pledge that I would live-- That hope of Her, say rather that pure Faith In her fix'd Love, which held me to keep truce With the tyranny of Life--is gone, ah! whither?

What boots it to reply? 'tis gone! and now Well may I break this Pact, this league of Blood That ties me to myself--and break I shall.

1810. First published from an MS. in 1893.

36

As when the new or full Moon urges The high, large, long, unbreaking surges Of the Pacific main.

1811. First published from an MS. in 1893.

37

O mercy, O me, miserable man!

Slowly my wisdom, and how slowly comes My Virtue! and how rapidly pa.s.s off My Joys! _my Hopes_! my Friends.h.i.+ps, and my Love!

1811. Now first published from an MS.