The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume I Part 157

The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume I Part 157

[22] denounced] disowned MS. B. M.

[31] sharp] smoke MS. B. M.

[36] Joseph] Judas MS. B. M.

[69-74]

Yet still pursu'd thro' scoff and gibe From A. to Z. his old A. B. C.

Content that he could still subscribe In symbol just his name ?S??S?; (In punic Greek that's He hath stood:) Whate'er the men, the cause was good.

MS. B. M.

[84] Ah! silly bird and unregarded J. P. C.: Poor witless Bard, unfed, untended MS. B. M.

[86] He liv'd unpraised, and unfriended MS. B. M.: unfriended] discarded J. P. C.

[87] With scarce] Without J. P. C.

THE TWO FOUNTS[454:1]

STANZAS ADDRESSED TO A LADY ON HER RECOVERY WITH UNBLEMISHED LOOKS, FROM A SEVERE ATTACK OF PAIN

'Twas my last waking thought, how it could be That thou, sweet friend, such anguish should'st endure; When straight from Dreamland came a Dwarf, and he Could tell the cause, forsooth, and knew the cure.

Methought he fronted me with peering look 5 Fix'd on my heart; and read aloud in game The loves and griefs therein, as from a book: And uttered praise like one who wished to blame.

In every heart (quoth he) since Adam's sin Two Founts there are, of Suffering and of Cheer! 10 That to let forth, and this to keep within!

But she, whose aspect I find imaged here,

Of Pleasure only will to all dispense, That Fount alone unlock, by no distress Choked or turned inward, but still issue thence 15 Unconquered cheer, persistent loveliness.

As on the driving cloud the shiny bow, That gracious thing made up of tears and light, Mid the wild rack and rain that slants below Stands smiling forth, unmoved and freshly bright; 20

As though the spirits of all lovely flowers, Inweaving each its wreath and dewy crown, Or ere they sank to earth in vernal showers, Had built a bridge to tempt the angels down.

Even so, Eliza! on that face of thine, 25 On that benignant face, whose look alone (The soul's translucence thro' her crystal shrine!) Has power to soothe all anguish but thine own,

A beauty hovers still, and ne'er takes wing, But with a silent charm compels the stern 30 And tort'ring Genius of the bitter spring, To shrink aback, and cower upon his urn.

Who then needs wonder, if (no outlet found In pa.s.sion, spleen, or strife) the Fount of Pain O'erflowing beats against its lovely mound, 35 And in wild flashes shoots from heart to brain?

Sleep, and the Dwarf with that unsteady gleam On his raised lip, that aped a critic smile, Had pa.s.sed: yet I, my sad thoughts to beguile, Lay weaving on the tissue of my dream; 40

Till audibly at length I cried, as though Thou hadst indeed been present to my eyes, O sweet, sweet sufferer; if the case be so, I pray thee, be less good, less sweet, less wise!

In every look a barbed arrow send, 45 On those soft lips let scorn and anger live!

Do any thing, rather than thus, sweet friend!

h.o.a.rd for thyself the pain, thou wilt not give!

1826.

FOOTNOTES:

[454:1] First published in the _Annual Register_ for 1827: reprinted in the _Bijou_ for 1828: included in 1828, 1829, 1834. 'In Gilchrist's _Life of Blake_ (1863, i. 337) it is stated that this poem was addressed to Mrs. Aders, the daughter of the engraver Raphael Smith.' _P. W._, 1892, p. 642.

LINENOTES:

t.i.tle]: Stanzas addressed to a Lady on her Recovery from a Severe attack of Pain Annual Register.

[11] That--this] _That--this_ 1828, 1829.

[14] That] _That_ 1828, 1829.

[16-17] In a MS. dated 1826, the following stanza precedes stanza 5 of the text:--

Was ne'er on earth seen beauty like to this.

A concentrated satisfying sight!

In its deep quiet, ask no further bliss-- At once the form and substance of delight.

[19-20]

Looks forth upon the troubled air below Unmov'd, entire, inviolably bright.

MS. 1826.

[31] tort'ring] fost'ring Annual Register, Bijou.

[44] less--less--less] _less--less--less_ 1828, 1829.

[47] any] _any_ 1828, 1829.

CONSTANCY TO AN IDEAL OBJECT[455:1]

Since all that beat about in Nature's range, Or veer or vanish; why should'st thou remain The only constant in a world of change, O yearning Thought! that liv'st but in the brain?

Call to the Hours, that in the distance play, 5 The faery people of the future day---- Fond Thought! not one of all that shining swarm Will breathe on thee with life-enkindling breath, Till when, like strangers shelt'ring from a storm,[456:1]

Hope and Despair meet in the porch of Death! 10 Yet still thou haunt'st me; and though well I see, She is not thou, and only thou art she, Still, still as though some dear embodied Good, Some living Love before my eyes there stood With answering look a ready ear to lend, 15 I mourn to thee and say--'Ah! loveliest friend!

That this the meed of all my toils might be, To have a home, an English home, and thee!'

Vain repet.i.tion! Home and Thou are one.

The peacefull'st cot, the moon shall shine upon, 20 Lulled by the thrush and wakened by the lark, Without thee were but a becalmed bark, Whose Helmsman on an ocean waste and wide Sits mute and pale his mouldering helm beside.