ON THE CHRISTENING OF A FRIEND'S CHILD1 THIS day among the faithful plac'd And fed with fontal manna, O with maternal title grac'd, Dear Anna's dearest Anna! While others wish thee wise and fair, A maid of spotless fame, I'll breathe this more compendious prayer- Thy mother's name, a potent spell, From mystic grove and living cell, ΤΟ Meek Quietness without offence; True Love; and True Love's Innocence, Associates of thy name, sweet Child! With face as eloquently mild To say, they lodge within. 15 20 25 Even thus a lovely rose I've view'd In summer-swelling pride; 30 Nor mark'd the bud, that green and rude 1 First published in the Supplement to Poems, 1797: reprinted in Literary Remains, 1836, i. 48, 49: included in 1844 and 1852. The lines were addressed to Anna Cruickshank, the wife of John Cruickshank, who was a neighbour of Coleridge at Nether-Stowey. It chanc'd I pass'd again that way In Autumn's latest hour, And wond'ring saw the selfsame spray Ah fond deceit! the rude green bud Had bloom'd where bloom'd its parent stud, 35 40 1797. TRANSLATION 1 OF A LATIN INSCRIPTION BY THE REV. W. L. BOWLES IN DEPART in joy from this world's noise and strife Depart!-Affection's self reproves the tear Which falls, O honour'd Parent! on thy bier ;- 1797. [The Tablet is erected to the Memory of Richard Camplin, who died Jan. 20, 1792. Lætus abi! mundi strepitu curisque remotus; Ipsa fides loquitur lacrymamque incusat inanem, 5 First published in Literary Remains, 1836, i. 50. First collected in P. and D. W., 1877, ii. 365. 6 Et longum tremulà L. R. 1836. THIS LIME-TREE BOWER MY PRISON1 [ADDRESSED TO CHARLES LAMB, OF THE In the June of 1797 some long-expected friends paid a visit to the author's cottage; and on the morning of their arrival, he met with an accident, which disabled him from walking during the whole time of their stay. One evening, when they had left him for a few hours, he composed the following lines in the garden-bower.2 WELL, they are gone, and here must I remain, 1 First published in the Annual Anthology, 1800, reprinted in Mylius' Poetical Classbook, 1810: included in Sibylline Leaves, 1817, in 1828, 1829, and 1834. The poem was sent in a letter to Southey, July 9, 1797, and in a letter to C. Lloyd, [July, 1797]. See Letters of S. T. C., 1895, i. 225-7 and P. W., 1893, p. 591. = 2 Ch. and Mary Lamb-dear to my heart, yea, as it were my Heart.— S.T. C. Æt. 63; 1834–1797–1834 37 years!' (Marginal note written by S. T. Coleridge over against the introductory note to 'This Lime-Tree Bower my Prison', in a copy of the Poetical Works, 1834.) This Lime-Tree, &c.-Title] This Lime-Tree Bower my Prison. A Poem Addressed, &c. An. Anth. : the words 'Addressed to ', &c., are omitted in Sibylline Leaves, 1828, 1829, and 1834. I-28 Well, they are gone, and here must I remain, MS. Letter to Southey, July 17, 1797. 5 10 *The ferns that grow in moist places grow five or six together, and form a complete 'Prince of Wales's Feather'-that is plumy. Letter to Southey. I-28 Well they are gone, and here I must remain Delighted wander, and look down, perchance, MS. Letter to Lloyd [July, 1797]. 3 Such beauties and such feelings, as had been An. Anth., S. L. Most sweet to my remembrance even when age Now, my friends emerge Beneath the wide wide Heaven-and view again Of hilly fields and meadows, and the sea, With some fair bark, perhaps, whose sails light up 1 'Elastic, I mean.' MS. Letter to Southey. 5 ΤΟ 15 20 25 30 2 The Asplenium Scolopendrium, called in some countries the Adder's Tongue, in others the Hart's Tongue, but Withering gives the Adder's Tongue as the trivial name of the Ophioglossum only. 6 My Friends, 20 blue] dim An. Anth. 4 my remembrance] to have remembered An. Anth. whom I may never meet again An. Anth., S. L. 22 tract] track An. Anth., S. L. 1828. 24 bark, perhaps, which lightly 28 hast] had'st An. Anth. 31 patient] bowed 34 beams] heaven MS. Letter to Southey. touches An. Anth. MS. Letter to Southey. Ye purple heath-flowers! richlier burn, ye clouds! A delight Comes sudden on my heart, and I am glad Much that has sooth'd me. Pale beneath the blaze Those fronting elms, and now, with blackest mass 38 foll. Struck with joy's deepest calm, and gazing round *You remember I am a Berkleyan. Note to Letter. 40 wide] wild S. L. 40 (for wild r. wide; and the two following lines thus: 41 foll. Less gross than bodily, a living thing Which acts upon the mind and with such hues 45 foll. As I myself were there! Nor in the bower MS. Letter to Southey. 35 40 45 50 |