How thou wouldst toss thy heels in gamesome play,
And frisk about, as lamb or kitten gay!
Yea! and more musically sweet to me
Thy dissonant harsh bray of joy would be,
Than warbled melodies that soothe to rest
The aching of pale Fashion's vacant breast!

1794.

LINES ON A FRIEND'

35

WHO DIED OF A FRENZY FEVER INDUCED BY CALUMNIOUS REPORTS

EDMUND! thy grave with aching eye I scan,

And inly groan for Heaven's poor outcast-Man! 'Tis tempest all or gloom in early youth

If gifted with th' Ithuriel lance of Truth

We force to start amid her feign'd caress
Vice, siren-hag! in native ugliness;

5

A Brother's fate will haply rouse the tear,

And on we go in heaviness and fear!

But if our fond hearts call to Pleasure's bower

Some pigmy Folly in a careless hour,

The faithless guest shall stamp the enchanted ground,
And mingled forms of Misery rise around:
Heart-fretting Fear, with pallid look aghast,

That courts the future woe to hide the past;

Remorse, the poison'd arrow in his side,

And loud lewd Mirth, to Anguish close allied:

1Ο

15

First published in 1796: included in 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834. Four MS. versions are extant, (1) in Letter to Southey, Nov. [6], 1794 (Letters of S. T. C., 1895, i. 98, 99): (2) in letter to George Coleridge, Nov. 6, 1794: (3) in the Estlin copy-book: (4) in the MS. 4°. The Friend was the Rev. Fulwood Smerdon, vicar of Ottery St. Mary, who died in August 1794.

35-6

36

Than Handel's softest airs that soothe to rest
The tumult of a scoundrel Monarch's Breast.
Than Banti's warbled airs that sooth to rest
The tumult &c. MS. Dec. 1794.

MS. Oct. 1794.

The tumult of some SCOUNDREL Monarch's breast. M. C. 1796. Lines on a Friend-Title] On the Death of a Friend who died of a Frenzy Fever brought on by anxiety MS. E.

thy grave MS. Letter to R. S. Smerdon! thy grave MS. Letter to G. C. 3 early] earliest MS. Letters to R. S. and G. C., MS. E. 5 We] He MS. Letters to R. S. and G. O., MS. E, MS. 4o, 1796. 7 will] shall MS. Letters to R. S. and G. C., MS. E. 8 And on he goes MS. Letters to R. S. and G. C., MS. E, 1796: Onward we move 1803. 9 his fond heart MS. Letters to R. S. and G. C., MS. E, 1796. II quick stamps MS. Letters to R. S. and G. C., MS. E, MS. 4o. 12 threaten round MS. Letters to R. S. and G. C.

Till Frenzy, fierce-eyed child of moping Pain,
Darts her hot lightning-flash athwart the brain.

Rest, injur'd shade! Shall Slander squatting near
Spit her cold venom in a dead man's ear?
Twas thine to feel the sympathetic glow
In Merit's joy, and Poverty's meek woe;
Thine all, that cheer the moment as it flies,
The zoneless Cares, and smiling Courtesies.
Nurs'd in thy heart the firmer Virtues grew,
And in thy heart they wither'd! Such chill dew
Wan Indolence on each young blossom shed;
And Vanity her filmy net-work spread,
With eye that roll'd around in asking gaze,
And tongue that traffick'd in the trade of praise.
Thy follies such! the hard world mark'd them well!
Were they more wise, the Proud who never fell?
Rest, injur'd shade! the poor man's grateful prayer
On heaven-ward wing thy wounded soul shall bear.

As oft at twilight gloom thy grave I pass,
And sit me down upon its recent grass,
With introverted eye I contemplate
Similitude of soul, perhaps of-Fate!

To me hath Heaven with bounteous hand assign'd
Energic Reason and a shaping mind,

The daring ken of Truth, the Patriot's part,
And Pity's sigh, that breathes the gentle heart-
Sloth-jaundic'd all! and from my graspless hand
Drop Friendship's precious pearls, like hour-glass sand.
I weep, yet stoop not! the faint anguish flows,
A dreamy pang in Morning's feverous doze.

Is this piled earth our Being's passless mound?
Tell me, cold grave! is Death with poppies crown'd?

20

25

3309

35

40

45

17 fierce-eyed] frantic MS. Letters to R. S. and G. C., MS. E erased [See Lamb's Letter to Coleridge, June 10, 1796].

MS. E.

19 squatting] couching MS. Letter to G. C., MS. E [See Lamb's Letter, June 10, 1796]. 23 cheer] cheers 25 firmer] generous MS. Letters to R. S. and G. C.; manly MS. E. 29 roll'd] prowl'd MS. Letters to R. S. and G. C., MS. E. 33-4 the poor man's prayer of praise

39

On heavenward wing thy wounded soul shall raise. 1796. 35 As oft in Fancy's thought MS. Letters to R. S. and G. C. bounteous] liberal MS. Letters to R. S. and G. C., MS. E. 41 ken] soul MS. Letter to R. S. 46 feverous] feverish all MSS. and Eds. 17961829. 47 this] that MS. Letters to R. S. and G. C., MS. E. hapless Letter to G. C.

passless]

Tired Sentinel! mid fitful starts I nod,

And fain would sleep, though pillowed on a clod!

1794.

TO A FRIEND1
[CHARLES LAMB]

TOGETHER WITH AN UNFINISHED POEM

THUS far my scanty brain hath built the rhyme
Elaborate and swelling: yet the heart
Not owns it. From thy spirit-breathing powers
I ask not now, my friend! the aiding verse,
Tedious to thee, and from thy anxious thought
Of dissonant mood. In fancy (well I know)
From business wandering far and local cares,
Thou creepest round a dear-lov'd Sister's bed
With noiseless step, and watchest the faint look,
Soothing each pang with fond solicitude,
And tenderest tones medicinal of love.

I too a Sister had, an only Sister

She lov'd me dearly, and I doted on her!

To her I pour'd forth all my puny sorrows
(As a sick Patient in a Nurse's arms)
And of the heart those hidden maladies

That e'en from Friendship's eye will shrink asham'd.

50

5

10

15

1 First published in 1796; included in 1797, 1803, and, again, in 1844. Lines 12-19 ('I too a sister... Because she was not ') are published in 1834 (i. 35) under the heading 'The Same', i. e. the same as the preceding poem, 'On seeing a Youth affectionately welcomed by a Sister.' The date, December 1794, affixed in 1797 and 1803, is correct. The poem was sent in a letter from Coleridge to Southey, dated December 1794. (Letters of S. T. C., 1895, i. 128.) The Unfinished Poem' was, certainly, Religious Musings, begun on Christmas Eve, 1794. The text is that of 1844.

49 Sentinel] Centinel all MSS. and Eds. 1796–1829. Letters to R. S. and G. C.

in 1796, 1797, and 1803,

mid] with

Below 1. 50 the date (November 1794) is affixed

To a Friend-Title] To C. Lamb MS. Letter, Dec. 1794: Effusion xxii. To a Friend, &c. 1796: To Charles Lamb with an unfinished Poem 1844. 1-3 Thus far my sterile brain hath fram'd the song

Elaborate and swelling: but the heart

Not owns it. From thy spirit-breathing power

7 Not in MS. Letter, Dec. 1794.

MS. Letter, Dec. 1794.

Between 13 and 14 On her soft bosom I reposed my cares
And gain'd for every wound a healing tear.

MS. Letter, 1794. 17 That shrink asham'd

15 a] his MS. Letter, 1794, 1796, 1797, 1803. from even Friendship's eye. MS. Letter, 1794, 1796, 1797.

O! I have wak'd at midnight, and have wept,
Because she was not!-Cheerily, dear Charles!
Thou thy best friend shalt cherish many a year:
Such warm presages feel I of high Hope.
For not uninterested the dear Maid
I've view'd-her soul affectionate yet wise,
Her polish'd wit as mild as lambent glories
That play around a sainted infant's head.
He knows (the Spirit that in secret sees,
Of whose omniscient and all-spreading Love
Aught to implore1 were impotence of mind)
That my mute thoughts are sad before his throne,
Prepar'd, when he his healing ray vouchsafes,
Thanksgiving to pour forth with lifted heart,
And praise Him Gracious with a Brother's Joy!

1794.

SONNETS ON EMINENT CHARACTERS CONTRIBUTED TO THE

MORNING CHRONICLE' IN DECEMBER 1794 AND JANUARY 1795

[The Sonnets were introduced by the following letter :'MR. EDITOR-If, Sir, the following Poems will not disgrace your poetical department, I will transmit you a series of Sonnets (as it is the fashion to call them) addressed like these to eminent Contemporaries. 'JESUS COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.' S. T. C.]

12

TO THE HONOURABLE MR. ERSKINE

WHEN British Freedom for an happier land

Spread her broad wings, that flutter'd with affright, ERSKINE! thy voice she heard, and paus'd her flight Sublime of hope, for dreadless thou didst stand

1 I utterly recant the sentiment contained in the linesOf whose omniscient and all-spreading Love Aught to implore were impotence of mind,'

it being written in Scripture, 'Ask, and it shall be given you,' and my human reason being moreover convinced of the propriety of offering petitions as well as thanksgivings to Deity. [Note of S. T. C., in Poems, 1797 and 1803.]

2 First published in the Morning Chronicle, Dec. 1, 1794: included in 1796, 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834.

18 wak'd] woke MS. Letter, 1794, 1796, 1797, 1803.

high] warm MS. Letter, 1794. presages] presagings 1803. holy MS. Letter, 1794. 26 that] who MS. Letter, 1794. thanksgiving MS. Letter, 1794, 1796, 1797, 1803.

21 warm] high:

25 sainted]

31 To pour forth

To the Honourable Mr. Erskine-Title] Effusion v. 1796: Sonnet x. 1803:

Sonnet iv. 1828, 1829, 1834.

4 for dreadless] where fearless M. C. Dec. 1, 1794.

5

(Thy censer glowing with the hallow'd flame)
A hireless Priest before the insulted shrine,
And at her altar pour the stream divine
Of unmatch'd eloquence. Therefore thy name.
Her sons shall venerate, and cheer thy breast
With blessings heaven-ward breath'd. And when the doom
Of Nature bids thee die, beyond the tomb
Thy light shall shine: as sunk beneath the West

Though the great Summer Sun eludes our gaze,
Still burns wide Heaven with his distended blaze.

December 1, 1794.

No. II.

***Our elegant correspondent will highly gratify every reader of taste by the continuance of his exquisitely beautiful productions. shall appear on an early day.'

II 1
BURKE

As late I lay in Slumber's shadowy vale,

With wetted cheek and in a mourner's guise,
I saw the sainted form of FREEDOM rise:

She spake! not sadder moans the autumnal gale

'Great Son of Genius! sweet to me thy name,
Ere in an evil hour with alter'd voice
Thou bad'st Oppression's hireling crew rejoice
Blasting with wizard spell my laurell'd fame.

'Yet never, BURKE! thou drank'st Corruption's bowl!* Thee stormy Pity and the cherish'd lure

5

10

1 First published in the Morning Chronicle, Dec. 9, 1794: included in 1796, 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834. This Sonnet was sent in a letter to Southey, dated December 11, 1794. Letters of S. T. C., 1895, i. 118. 2 Yet never, BURKE! thou drank'st Corruption's bowl! When I composed this line, I had not read the following paragraph in the Cambridge Intelligencer (of Saturday, November 21, 1795) :—

'When Mr. Burke first crossed over the House of Commons from the Opposition to the Ministry, he received a pension of £1200 a year charged on the Kings Privy Purse. When he had completed his labours, it was then a question what recom

6 A] An M. C., 1796-1803, 1828, 1829.

7 pour] pour'dst M. C., 1796, 1803.
10 With heav'n-breath'd blessings; and,
die] rise 1803.

the insulted] her injur'd M. C.

8 unmatch'd] matchless M. C. when late the doom M. C.

13-14 Though the great Sun not meets our wistful gaze

Still glows wide Heaven M. C.

Below 1. 14 Jesus College Cambridge M. C.

II

Burke-Title] Effusion ii. 1796: Sonnet vii. 1803: Sonnet ii. 1828, 1829, 1834.

I As late I roam'd through Fancy's shadowy vale MS. Letter, Dec. 11, 1794. 4 She] He MS. Letter, 1794.