The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume I Part 37

[9] such as] which oft 1797, 1803.

[11] a] such 1797, 1803.

[13-14]

As made the soul enamour'd of her woe: No common praise, dear Bard! to thee I owe.

1797, 1803.

VIII[85:2]

MRS. SIDDONS

As when a child on some long Winter's night Affrighted clinging to its Grandam's knees With eager wond'ring and perturb'd delight Listens strange tales of fearful dark decrees Muttered to wretch by necromantic spell; 5 Or of those hags, who at the witching time Of murky Midnight ride the air sublime, And mingle foul embrace with fiends of h.e.l.l:

Cold Horror drinks its blood! Anon the tear More gentle starts, to hear the Beldame tell 10 Of pretty Babes, that lov'd each other dear.

Murder'd by cruel Uncle's mandate fell:

Even such the s.h.i.+v'ring joys thy tones impart, Even so thou, SIDDONS! meltest my sad heart!

_December_ 29, 1794.

FOOTNOTES:

[85:2] First published in the _Morning Chronicle_, December 29, 1794, under the signature, S. T. C.: included in 1796 (as C. L.'s) and in 1797 as Charles Lamb's, but rea.s.signed to Coleridge in 1803. First collected, _P. and D. W._, 1877, i. 140, 141. This sonnet may have been altered by Coleridge, but was no doubt written by Lamb and given by him to Coleridge to make up his tale of sonnets for the _Morning Chronicle_. In 1796 and 1797 Coleridge acknowledged the sonnet to be Lamb's; but in 1803, Lamb, who was seeing that volume through the press, once more handed it over to Coleridge.

LINENOTES:

t.i.tle] Effusion vii. 1796: Sonnet viii. 1797, p. 224: Sonnet xii. 1803.

[4] dark tales of fearful strange decrees M. C.

[6] Of Warlock Hags that M. C.

IX

TO WILLIAM G.o.dWIN[86:1]

AUTHOR OF 'POLITICAL JUSTICE'

O form'd t' illume a sunless world forlorn, As o'er the chill and dusky brow of Night, In Finland's wintry skies the Mimic Morn[86:2]

Electric pours a stream of rosy light,

Pleas'd I have mark'd OPPRESSION, terror-pale, 5 Since, thro' the windings of her dark machine, Thy steady eye has shot its glances keen-- And bade th' All-lovely 'scenes at distance hail'.

Nor will I not thy holy guidance bless, And hymn thee, G.o.dWIN! with an ardent lay; 10 For that thy voice, in Pa.s.sion's stormy day, When wild I roam'd the bleak Heath of Distress,

Bade the bright form of Justice meet my way-- And told me that her name was HAPPINESS.

_January_ 10, 1795.

FOOTNOTES:

[86:1] 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.

[86:2] Aurora Borealis.

X[87:1]

TO ROBERT SOUTHEY

OF BALIOL COLLEGE, OXFORD, AUTHOR OF THE 'RETROSPECT', AND OTHER POEMS

SOUTHEY! thy melodies steal o'er mine ear Like far-off joyance, or the murmuring Of wild bees in the sunny showers of Spring-- Sounds of such mingled import as may cheer

The lonely breast, yet rouse a mindful tear: 5 Wak'd by the Song doth Hope-born FANCY fling Rich showers of dewy fragrance from her wing, Till sickly Pa.s.sION'S drooping Myrtles sear

Blossom anew! But O! more thrill'd, I prize Thy sadder strains, that bid in MEMORY'S Dream 10 The faded forms of past Delight arise; Then soft, on Love's pale cheek, the tearful gleam

Of Pleasure smiles--as faint yet beauteous lies The imag'd Rainbow on a willowy stream.

_January_ 14, 1795.

FOOTNOTES:

[87:1] First published in the _Morning Chronicle_, January 14, 1795.

First collected, _P. and D. W._, 1877, i. 142. This sonnet was sent in a letter to Southey, dated December 17, 1794. _Letters of S. T. C._, 1895, i. 120.