The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 222

12

STANZAS XXVII, XXIX, x.x.x.

Although the stronger const.i.tution shall Wear out th' infection of distemper'd days, And come with glory to out-live this fall, Recov'ring of another spring of praise, &c.

For these lines are the veins and arteries And undecaying life-strings of those hearts, That still shall pant, and still shall exercise The motion, spir't and nature both imparts, And shall with those alive so sympathize, As nourish'd with stern powers, enjoy their parts.

O blessed letters! that combine in one All ages past, and make one live with all: By you we do confer with who are gone, And the dead-living unto council call: By you the unborn shall have communion Of what we feel, and what does us befall.

O blessed letters, &c.

Since Writings are the Veins, the Arteries, And undecaying Life-strings of those Hearts, They still shall pant and still shall exercise Their mightiest powers when Nature none imparts: And the strong const.i.tution of their Praise Wear out the infection of distemper'd days

_Motto_ to 'The Landing-Place', Essay i, _The Friend_, 1818, i. 215; 1850, 165. The piecing together of the lines in the second stanza of the motto was first noted by J. D. Campbell, in _The Athenaeum_, art.

'Coleridge's Quotations,' Aug. 20, 1892.

13

CHRISTOPHER HARVEY

THE SYNAGOGUE

THE NATIVITY OR CHRISTMAS DAY.

Unfold thy face, unmask thy ray, s.h.i.+ne forth, bright sun, double the day; Let no malignant misty fume Nor foggy vapour, once presume To interpose thy perfect sights, 5 This day which makes us use thy lights For ever better that we could That blessed object once behold, Which is both the circ.u.mference And centre of all excellence, &c. 10

Subst.i.tute the following for the fifth to the eighth line.

To sheath or blunt one happy ray, That wins new splendour from the day,-- This day that gives thee power to rise, And s.h.i.+ne on hearts as well as eyes: This birth-day of all souls, when first On eyes of flesh and blood did burst That primal great lucific light, That rays to thee, to us gave sight.

[S. T. C.]

First published in 'Notes on Harvey's Synagogue', _Notes and Lectures_, &c., 1849, ii. 263. Now first collected.

Coleridge's notes to _The Synagogue_, including these original lines, were reprinted in the notes to _The Complete Poems_ of Christopher Harvey, 1874, p. 47.

14

MARK AKENSIDE

BLANK VERSE INSCRIPTIONS

No. III.

[For Elegy Imitated from one of Akenside's 'Blank Verse Inscriptions', vide _ante_, p. 69.]

Whoe'er thou art whose path in Summer lies Through yonder village, turn thee where the Grove Of branching oaks a rural palace old Embosoms--there dwells Albert, generous lord Of all the harvest round. And onward thence 5 A low plain chapel fronts the morning light Fast by a silent rivulet. Humbly walk, O stranger, o'er the consecrated ground; And on that verdant Hillock, which thou seest Beset with osiers, let thy pious hand 10 Sprinkle fresh water from the brook, and strew Sweet-smelling flowers--for there doth Edmund rest, The learned shepherd; for each rural art Famed, and for songs harmonious, and the woes Of ill-requited love. The faithless pride 15 Of fair Matilda sank him to the grave In manhood's prime. But soon did righteous Heaven With tears, with sharp remorse, and pining care Avenge her falsehood. Nor could all the gold And nuptial pomp, which lured her plighted faith 20 From Edmund to a loftier husband's home, Relieve her breaking heart, or turn aside The strokes of death. Go, traveller, relate The mournful story. Haply some fair maid May hold it in remembrance, and be taught 25 That riches cannot pay for truth or love.

15

W. L. BOWLES

----I yet remain To mourn the hours of youth (yet mourn in vain) That fled neglected: wisely thou hast trod The better path--and that high meed which G.o.d a.s.sign'd to virtue, tow'ring from the dust, 5 Shall wait thy rising, Spirit pure and just!

O G.o.d! how sweet it were to think, that all Who silent mourn around this gloomy ball Might hear the voice of joy;--but 'tis the will Of man's great Author, that thro' good and ill 10 Calm he should hold his course, and so sustain His varied lot of pleasure, toil and pain!

1793

['These lines,' which 'were found in Mr. Coleridge's handwriting in one of the Prayer Books in the Chapel of Jesus College, Cambridge,' were first published in _Lit. Rem._, 1836, i. 34. They were first collected in _P. W._, 1885, i. 127. The first six lines are (see _P. W._, 1893, p.

474) taken from Bowles's elegy 'On the Death of Henry Headley'. J. D.

Campbell surmised that the last six lines 'practically belonged to the same poem', but of this there is no evidence. The note of the elegy is a lament for the 'untimely sorrow' which had befallen an innocent sufferer, and the additional lines, which Coleridge composed or quoted, moralized the theme.

_Note._ Bowles wrote, I, alas, remain (l. 1), and 'Ordain'd for virtue'

(l. 5).]

16

NAPOLEON

Then we may thank ourselves, Who spell-bound by the magic name of Peace Dream golden dreams. Go, warlike Britain, go, For the grey olive-branch change thy green laurels: Hang up thy rusty helmet, that the bee 5 May have a hive, or spider find a loom!

Instead of doubling drum and thrilling fife Be lull'd in lady's lap with amorous flutes: But for Napoleon, know, he'll scorn this calm: The ruddy planet at _his_ birth bore sway, 10 Sanguine adust his humour, and wild fire His ruling element. Rage, revenge, and cunning Make up the temper of this Captain's valour.

_Adapted from an old Play._

First published in _The Friend_, 1818, ii. 115. In later editions the word 'Adapted' was omitted. First collected in 1893.

J. D. Campbell (_P. W._, 1893, p. 473) suggests that the 'calm' was, probably, the 'Peace of Amiens'.

APPENDIX VI

ORIGINALS OF TRANSLATIONS

A

[Vide _ante_, p. 307]

MILESISCHES MaHRCHEN

Ein milesisches Mahrchen, Adonide: Unter heiligen Lorbeerwipfeln glanzte Hoch auf rauschendem Vorgebirg ein Tempel.