AN INVOCATION1 SWEET Muse! companion of my every hour! 1790. ANNA AND HARLAND 2 I love to sit upon her tomb's dark grass, Then Memory backward rolls Time's shadowy tide; With eager thought I seize them as they pass; 5 ΙΟ Like Heaven's bright beauteous bow reflected in the stream. ? 1790. TO THE EVENING STAR 3 O MEEK attendant of Sol's setting blaze, Till I, methinks, all spirit seem to grow. 1 First published in 1893, from an autograph MS. 2 First printed in the Cambridge Intelligencer, Oct. 15, 1794. First collected P. and D. W., 1880, Supplement, ii. 359. The text is that of 1880 and 1893, which follow a MS. version. 3 First published in P. and D. W., 1880, Supplement, ii. 359, from MS. O. Anna and Harland-Title] Anna and Henry C. I. I Along this glade C. I. 2 Henry C. I. 3 stern] dark C. I. 5 To her cold grave did woe-worn C. I. Henry C. I. stray C. I. 7 the] a C. 1. Harland] 6 stay] 9 dark] dank C. 1. To Then] There C. I. 14 Like Heaven's bright bow reflected on the O first and fairest of the starry choir, O loveliest 'mid the daughters of the night, Must not the maid I love like thee inspire Pure joy and calm Delight? Must she not be, as is thy placid sphere Serenely brilliant? Whilst to gaze a whileTM Be all my wish 'mid Fancy's high career E'en till she quit this scene of earthly toil; Then Hope perchance might fondly sigh to join Her spirit in thy kindred orb, O Star benign! ? 1790. PAIN1 ONCE Could the Morn's first beams, the healthful breeze, I view the crowd, whom Youth and Health inspire, Ere Tyrant Pain had chas'd away delight, Ere the wild pulse throbb'd anguish thro' the night! ? 1790. ON A LADY WEEPING 2 IMITATION FROM THE LATIN OF NICOLAUS ARCHIUS LOVELY gems of radiance meek Trembling down my Laura's cheek, As the streamlets silent glide Tears which Friendship taught to flow, 5 ΤΟ 5 10 5 'First published in 1834. 2 First published in 1893. From MS. 0 (c). Pain-Title] Pain, a Sonnet MS. 0: Sonnet Composed in Sickness MS. 3 But ah! nor splendid feasts MS. O (c). 12 Muse's] festive MS. 0, MS. 0 (c). ? 1790. Sparkling in yon humid light When Spring-clouds shed their treasures soft And flutters in the fost'ring dew. MONODY ON A TEA-KETTLE1 O MUSE who sangest late another's pain, ΤΟ (Whilst Bats shall shriek and Dogs shall howling run) The tea-kettle is spoilt and Coleridge is undone ! Your cheerful songs, ye unseen crickets, cease! 5 ΙΟ 15 No more the Tea shall pour its fragrant steams around! No more wilt thou extend thy willing arms, Receive the fervent Jove, and yield him all thy charms! 20 1 First published in 1834, from MS. 0. The text of 1893 follows an autograph MS. in the Editor's possession. their heads MS. S. T. C. Monody] Muse that late sang another's poignant pain MS. S. T. C. 3 In slowest steps the funeral steeds shall go MS. S. T. C. 4 Nodding 5 each deadly weed MS. S. T. C. 8 The] 9 songs] song MS. S. T. C. 15 issuing] hissing 16 pour] throw MS. S. T. 0. steams steam MS. S. T. C. Vine] Wine MS. S. T. C. 19 who] that 21 various charms MS. S. T. C. 23 extend] expand His MS. S. T. C. 18 thee] whom MS. S. T. C. MS. S. T. C. MS. S. T. C. How sink the mighty low by Fate opprest!- 25 When from thy spout the streams did arching fly,— 30 But hark! or do I fancy the glad voice 'What tho' the swain did wondrous charms disclose (Not such did Memnon's sister sable drest) 35 Take these bright arms with royal face imprest, And with Oblivion's wings o'erspread thy woes!' 1790. GENEVIEVE1 MAID of my Love, sweet Genevieve! 40 1 First published in the Cambridge Intelligencer for Nov. 1, 1794: included in the editions of 1796, 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834. Three MSS. are extant; (1) an autograph in a copy-book made for the family [MS. 0]; (2) an autograph in a copy-book presented to Mrs. Estlin [MS. E]; and 3) a transcript included in a copy-book presented to Sara Coleridge in 1823 [MS. 0 (c). In an unpublished letter dated Dec. 18, 1807, Coleridge invokes the aid of Richard ['Conservation'] Sharp on behalf of a ‘Mrs. Brewman, who was elected a nurse to one of the wards of Christ's Hospital at the time that I was a boy there'. He says elsewhere that he spent full half the time from seventeen to eighteen in the sick ward of Christ's Hospital. It is doubtless to this period, 1789-90, that Pain and Genevieve, which, according to a Christ's Hospital tradition, were inspired by his 'Nurse's Daughter', must be assigned. 'This little poem was written when the Author was a boy '-Note 1796, 1803. 25 How low the mighty sink MS. S. T. C. 30-1 29 seiz'd] chear'd MS. S. T. C. When from thy spout the stream did arching flow As if, inspir'd MS. S. T. C. 33 the glad] Georgian MS. S. T. C. 34 the swain] its form MS. S. T. C. 35 Note. A parenthetical reflection of the Author's. MS. 0. wing MS. S. T. C. 38 wings] Genevieve-Title] Sonnet iii. MS. 0: Ode MS. E: A Sonnet MS. 0 (c) : Effusion xvii. 1796. The heading, Generiere, first appears in 1803. 2 Thou glid'st along [so, too, in 11. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 14] MS. 0, MS. E, MS. 0 (c), C. I. Your eye is like the Star of Eve, 1789-90. ON RECEIVING AN ACCOUNT THAT HIS ONLY SISTER'S DEATH WAS INEVITABLE1 THE tear which mourn'd a brother's fate scarce dry- Is my heart destin'd for another blow? O my sweet sister! and must thou too die? How are ye gone, whom most my soul held dear! My woes, my joys unshared! Ah! long ere then 1791. 5 ΤΟ 1 First published in 1834. The brother' (line 1) was Luke Herman Coleridge who died at Thorverton in 1790. Anne Coleridge, the poet's sister (the only daughter of his father's second marriage), died in March 1791. outstretch'd] stretcht out 4 Thy voice is lovely as the MS. E: Thy voice is soft, &c. MS. 0 (c), C. I. 8 It bids thee hear the tearful plaint of woe MS. E. Io no... save] no friendly hand that saves MS. E. MS. 0, MS. 0 (c), C. I. On receiving, &c.-Title] I tear] tears MS. 0. gone] flown MS. 0, Mother MS. 0. 12 the wave] quick-rolling waves MS. E. 4 O my sweet sister must thou die MS. 0. 7 II father] |