The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 220

The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 220

4

SIR JOHN DAVIES

ON THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL

(Sect. iv. Stanzas 12-14.)

Doubtless, this could not be, but that she turns Bodies to spirits, by sublimation strange; As fire converts to fire the things it burns; As we our meats into our nature change.

From their gross matter she abstracts the forms, 5 And draws a kind of quintessence from things; Which to her proper nature she transforms, To bear them light, on her celestial wings.

This doth she, when, from things particular, She doth abstract the universal kinds, 10 Which bodiless and immaterial are, And can be only lodg'd within our minds.

Stanza 12 Doubtless, &c.

l. 2 Bodies to _spirit_, &c.

l. 4. As we our _food_, &c.

Stanza 13, l. 1 From their gross matter she abstracts _their_ forms.

Stanza 14

_Thus doth she, when from individual states_ She doth abstract the universal kinds; _Which then re-clothed in divers names and_ fates _Steal access through our senses to our_ minds.

_Biog. Lit._, Cap. xiv, 1817, II, 12; 1847, II, Cap. i, pp. 14-15. The alteration was first noted in 1847.

5

DONNE

ECLOGUE. 'ON UNWORTHY WISDOM'

So reclused Hermits oftentimes do know More of Heaven's glory than a worldly can: As Man is of the World, the Heart of Man Is an Epitome of G.o.d's great Book Of Creatures, and Men need no further look.

These lines are quoted by Coleridge in _The Friend_, 1818, i. 192; 1850, i. 147. The first two lines run thus:

_The_ recluse _Hermit oft'_ times _more doth_ know _Of the world's inmost wheels_, than worldlings can, &c.

The alteration was first pointed out in an edition of _The Friend_ issued by H. N. Coleridge in 1837.

6

LETTER TO SIR HENRY GOODYERE

Stanzas II, III, IV, and a few words from Stanza V, are prefixed as the motto to Essay XV of _The Friend_, 1818, i. 179; 1850, i. 136.

For Stanza II, line 3--

But he which dwells there is not so; for he _With him_ who dwells there 'tis not so; for he

For Stanza III--

So had your body her morning, hath her noon, And shall not better, her next change is night: But her fair larger guest, t'whom sun and moon Are sparks, and short liv'd, claims another right.--

The motto reads:

_Our bodies had their_ morning, have their noon, And shall not better--the next change is night, But _their_ fair larger guest, t'whom sun and moon Are sparks and short liv'd, claims another right.

The alteration was first noted in 1837. In 1850 line 3 of Stanza III 'fair' is misprinted 'far'.

7

BEN JONSON

A NYMPH'S Pa.s.sION

I love, and he loves me again, Yet dare I not tell who; For if the nymphs should know my swain, I fear they'd love him too; Yet if it be not known, 5 The pleasure is as good as none, For that's a narrow joy is but our own.

I'll tell, that if they be not glad, They yet may envy me; But then if I grow jealous mad, 10 And of them pitied be, It were a plague 'bove scorn, And yet it cannot be forborne, Unless my heart would, as my thought, be torn.

He is, if they can find him, fair, 15 And fresh and fragrant too, As summer's sky or purged air, And looks as lilies do That are this morning blown; Yet, yet I doubt he is not known, 20 And fear much more, that more of him be shown.

But he hath eyes so round and bright, As make away my doubt, Where Love may all his torches light Though hate had put them out; 25 But then, t'increase my fears, What nymph soe'er his voice but hears, Will be my rival, though she have but ears.

I'll tell no more, and yet I love, And he loves me; yet no 30 One unbecoming thought doth move From either heart, I know; But so exempt from blame, As it would be to each a fame, If love or fear would let me tell his name. 35

_Underwoods_ No. V.

MUTUAL Pa.s.sION

ALTERED AND MODERNIZED FROM AN OLD POET

I love, and he loves me again, Yet dare I not tell who: For if the nymphs should know my swain, I fear they'd love him too.

_Yet while my joy's unknown, 5 Its rosy buds are but half-blown: What no one with me shares, seems scarce my own._

I'll tell, that if they be not glad, They yet may envy me: But then if I grow jealous mad, 10 And of them pitied be, _'Twould vex me worse than_ scorn!

And yet it cannot be forborn, Unless my heart would _like_ my _thoughts_ be torn.

He is, if they can find him, fair 15 And fresh, and fragrant too; _As after rain the summer air_, And looks as lilies do, That are this morning blown!

Yet, yet I doubt, he is not known, 20 _Yet, yet I fear to have him fully shewn_.

But he hath eyes so _large_, and bright.

_Which none can see, and_ doubt _That_ Love _might thence_ his torches light Tho' Hate had put them out! 25 But then to _raise_ my fears, _His voice--what maid so ever_ hears Will be my rival, tho' she have but ears.

I'll tell no more! _yet I love him_, And ho loves me; _yet so, 30 That never one low wish did dim Our love's pure light, I know-- In each so free from_ blame, _That both of us would gain new_ fame, If love's _strong fears_ would let me tell his name! 35