The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume I Part 27

[23] waked] woke MS. Letter, 1794, MS. E.

[24] with wilder hand th' empa.s.sion'd lyre MS. Letter, 1794: with wilder hand th' Alcaean lyre MS. 4{o}, MS. E, Watchman, 1796, 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829.

[25] wound] wounds MS. Letter, 1794.

[27] In ghastly horror lie th' Oppressors low MS. Letter, 1794, MS. E, MS. 4{o}, 1796, Watchman.

[29] With sad and wearied thought I seek the shade MS. E: With wearied thought I seek the amaranth shade MS. Letter, 1794.

[30] the] her MS. Letter, 1794, MS. E.

[32] The eloquent messengers of the pure soul MS. Letter, 1794, MS. E, MS. 4{o}, Watchman, 1796.

[33] winning] cunning MS. Letter, 1794.

[36] empa.s.sion'd] wond'ring MS. Letter, 1794.

[40] wreath] flowers MS. Letter, 1794, MS. E.

[41-4]

Nor, Brunton! thou the blus.h.i.+ng-wreath refuse, Though harsh her notes, yet guileless is my Muse.

Unwont at Flattery's Voice to plume her wings, A Child of Nature, as she feels she sings.

MS. Letter, 1794.

Nor ----! thou the blus.h.i.+ng wreath refuse Tho' harsh her song, yet guileless is the Muse.

Unwont &c.

MS. E.

[42-4]

No Serpent lurks beneath their simple hues.

No purple blooms from Flattery's nightshade brings, The Child of Nature--as he feels he sings.

MS. 4{o} erased.

[43-4]

Nature's pure Child from Flatt'ry's night-shade brings No blooms rich-purpling: as he feels he sings.

MS. 4{o}.

[Below l. 44] September, 1794 1797, 1803: September 1792 1828, 1829, 1834.

TRANSLATION[66:1]

OF WRANGHAM'S 'HENDECASYLLABI AD BRUNTONAM E GRANTA EXITURAM' [KAL. OCT.

MDCCXC]

Maid of unboastful charms! whom white-robed Truth Right onward guiding through the maze of youth, Forbade the Circe Praise to witch thy soul, And dash'd to earth th' intoxicating bowl: Thee meek-eyed Pity, eloquently fair, 5 Clasp'd to her bosom with a mother's care; And, as she lov'd thy kindred form to trace, The slow smile wander'd o'er her pallid face.

For never yet did mortal voice impart Tones more congenial to the sadden'd heart: 10 Whether, to rouse the sympathetic glow, Thou pourest lone Monimia's tale of woe; Or haply clothest with funereal vest The bridal loves that wept in Juliet's breast.

O'er our chill limbs the thrilling Terrors creep, 15 Th' entranced Pa.s.sions their still vigil keep; While the deep sighs, responsive to the song, Sound through the silence of the trembling throng.

But purer raptures lighten'd from thy face, And spread o'er all thy form an holier grace, 20 When from the daughter's b.r.e.a.s.t.s the father drew The life he gave, and mix'd the big tear's dew.

Nor was it thine th' heroic strain to roll With mimic feelings foreign from the soul: Bright in thy parent's eye we mark'd the tear; 25 Methought he said, 'Thou art no Actress here!

A semblance of thyself the _Grecian_ dame, And Brunton and Euphrasia still the same!'

O soon to seek the city's busier scene, Pause thee awhile, thou chaste-eyed maid serene, 30 Till Granta's sons from all her sacred bowers With grateful hand shall weave Pierian flowers To twine a fragrant chaplet round thy brow, Enchanting ministress of virtuous woe!

1794.

FOOTNOTES:

[66:1] First published in _Poems_, by Francis Wrangham, London, 1795, pp. 79-83. First collected in _P. and D. W._, 1880, ii. 360*

(_Supplement_).

TO MISS BRUNTON[67:1]

WITH THE PRECEDING TRANSLATION

That darling of the Tragic Muse, When Wrangham sung her praise, Thalia lost her rosy hues, And sicken'd at her lays:

But transient was th' unwonted sigh; 5 For soon the G.o.ddess spied A sister-form of mirthful eye, And danc'd for joy and cried:

'Meek Pity's sweetest child, proud dame, The fates have given to you! 10 Still bid your Poet boast her name; _I_ have _my_ Brunton too.'

1794.

FOOTNOTES:

[67:1] First published in _Poems_, by Francis Wrangham, 1795, p. 83.

First collected in _P. and D. W._, 1880, ii. 362* (_Supplement_).