The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 213

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LOVE'S APPARITION AND EVANISHMENT[1087:1]

[Vide _ante_, p. 488.]

[FIRST DRAFT]

In vain I supplicate the Powers above; There is no Resurrection for the Love That, nursed with tenderest care, yet fades away In the chilled heart by inward self-decay.

Like a lorn Arab old and blind 5 Some caravan had left behind That sits beside a ruined Well, And hangs his wistful head aslant, Some sound he fain would catch-- Suspended there, as it befell, 10 O'er my own vacancy, And while I seemed to watch The sickly calm, as were of heart A place where Hope lay dead, The spirit of departed Love 15 Stood close beside my bed.

She bent methought to kiss my lips As she was wont to do.

Alas! 'twas with a chilling breath That awoke just enough of life in death 20 To make it die anew.

FOOTNOTES:

[1087:1] Now first published from an MS.

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TWO VERSIONS OF THE EPITAPH[1088:1]

INSCRIBED IN A COPY OF GREW'S _Cosmologia Sacra_ (1701)

[Vide _ante_, p. 491.]

1

Epitaph in Hornsey Church yard Hic Jacet S. T. C.

Stop, Christian Pa.s.ser-by! Stop, Child of G.o.d!

And read with gentle heart. Beneath this sod There lies a Poet: or what once was He.

[_Up_] O lift thy soul in prayer for S. T. C.

That He who many a year with toil of breath 5 Found death in life, may here find life in death.

Mercy for praise, to be forgiven for fame He ask'd, and hoped thro' Christ. Do thou the same.

2

ETESI'S [for Estesi's] Epitaph.

Stop, Christian Visitor! Stop, Child of G.o.d, Here lies a Poet: or what once was He!

[_O_] Pause, Traveller, pause and pray for S. T. C.

That He who many a year with toil of Breath Found Death in Life, may here find Life in Death. 5

And read with gentle heart! Beneath this sod There lies a Poet, etc.

'Inscription on the Tomb-stone of one not unknown; yet more commonly known by the Initials of his Name than by the Name itself.'

ESTEESE'S a?t?ep?taf???[1089:1]

(From a copy of the _Todten-Tanz_ which belonged to Thomas Poole.)

Here lies a Poet; or what once was he: Pray, gentle Reader, pray for S. T. C.

That he who threescore years, with toilsome breath, Found Death in Life, may now find Life in Death.

FOOTNOTES:

[1088:1] First published in _The Athenaeum_, April 7, 1888: included in the _Notes_ to 1893 (p. 645).

[1089:1] First published in the _Notes_ to 1893 (p. 646).

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[HABENT SUA FATA--POETAE][1089:2]

The Fox, and Statesman subtile wiles ensure, The Cit, and Polecat stink and are secure; Toads with their venom, doctors with their drug, The Priest, and Hedgehog, in their robes are snug!

Oh, Nature! cruel step-mother, and hard, 5 To thy poor, naked, fenceless child the Bard!

No Horns but those by luckless Hymen worn, And those (alas! alas!) not Plenty's Horn!

With naked feelings, and with aching pride, He hears th' unbroken blast on every side! 10 Vampire Booksellers drain him to the heart, And Scorpion Critics cureless venom dart!

FOOTNOTES:

[1089:2] First published in Cottle's _Early Recollections_, 1839, i.

172. Now collected for the first time. These lines, according to Cottle, were included in a letter written from Lichfield in January, 1796. They ill.u.s.trate the following sentence: 'The present hour I seem in a quickset hedge of embarra.s.sments! For shame! I ought not to mistrust G.o.d! but, indeed, to hope is far more difficult than to fear. Bulls have horns, Lions have talons.'--They are signed 'S. T. C.' and are presumably his composition.

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TO JOHN THELWALL[1090:1]

Some, Thelwall! to the Patriot's meed aspire, Who, in safe rage, without or rent or scar, Bound pictur'd strongholds sketching mimic war Closet their valour--Thou mid thickest fire Leapst on the wall: therefore shall Freedom choose 5 Ungaudy flowers that chastest odours breathe, And weave for thy young locks a Mural wreath; Nor there my song of grateful praise refuse.

My ill-adventur'd youth by Cam's slow stream Pin'd for a woman's love in slothful ease: 10 First by thy fair example [taught] to glow With patriot zeal; from Pa.s.sion's feverish dream Starting I tore disdainful from my brow A Myrtle Crown inwove with Cyprian bough-- Blest if to me in manhood's years belong 15 Thy stern simplicity and vigorous Song.