The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume I Part 133

FOOTNOTES:

[386:1] First published in the _Morning Post_, October 16, 1802: included in _Sibylline Leaves_, in 1828, 1829, and 1834.

LINENOTES:

t.i.tle] The Language of Birds: Lines spoken extempore, to a little child, in early spring M. P.

[Between 6-7]

'I love, and I love,' almost all the birds say From sunrise to star-rise, so gladsome are they.

M. P.

[After 10]

'Tis no wonder that he's full of joy to the brim, When He loves his Love, and his Love loves him.

M. P.

Line 10 is adapted from the refrain of Prior's _Song_ ('One morning very early, one morning in the spring'):--'I love my love, because I know my love loves me.'

THE DAY-DREAM[386:2]

FROM AN EMIGRANT TO HIS ABSENT WIFE

If thou wert here, these tears were tears of light!

But from as sweet a vision did I start As ever made these eyes grow idly bright!

And though I weep, yet still around my heart A sweet and playful tenderness doth linger, 5 Touching my heart as with an infant's finger.

My mouth half open, like a witless man, I saw our couch, I saw our quiet room, Its shadows heaving by the fire-light gloom; And o'er my lips a subtle feeling ran, 10 All o'er my lips a soft and breeze-like feeling-- I know not what--but had the same been stealing

Upon a sleeping mother's lips, I guess It would have made the loving mother dream That she was softly bending down to kiss 15 Her babe, that something more than babe did seem, A floating presence of its darling father, And yet its own dear baby self far rather!

Across my chest there lay a weight, so warm!

As if some bird had taken shelter there; 20 And lo! I seemed to see a woman's form-- Thine, Sara, thine? O joy, if thine it were!

I gazed with stifled breath, and feared to stir it, No deeper trance e'er wrapt a yearning spirit!

And now, when I seemed sure thy face to see, 25 Thy own dear self in our own quiet home; There came an elfish laugh, and wakened me: 'Twas Frederic, who behind my chair had clomb, And with his bright eyes at my face was peeping.

I blessed him, tried to laugh, and fell a-weeping! 30

1801-2.

FOOTNOTES:

[386:2] First published in the _Morning Post_, October 19, 1802. First collected in _Poems_, 1852. A note (p. 384), was affixed:--'This little poem first appeared in the _Morning Post_ in 1802, but was doubtless composed in Germany. It seems to have been forgotten by its author, for this was the only occasion on which it saw the light through him. The Editors think that it will plead against parental neglect in the mind of most readers.' Internal evidence seems to point to 1801 or 1802 as the most probable date of composition.

LINENOTES:

[Below line 30] ?S??S?.

THE HAPPY HUSBAND[388:1]

A FRAGMENT

Oft, oft methinks, the while with thee, I breathe, as from the heart, thy dear And dedicated name, I hear A promise and a mystery, A pledge of more than pa.s.sing life, 5 Yea, in that very name of Wife!

A pulse of love, that ne'er can sleep!

A feeling that upbraids the heart With happiness beyond desert, That gladness half requests to weep! 10 Nor bless I not the keener sense And unalarming turbulence

Of transient joys, that ask no sting From jealous fears, or coy denying; But born beneath Love's brooding wing, 15 And into tenderness soon dying, Wheel out their giddy moment, then Resign the soul to love again;--

A more precipitated vein Of notes, that eddy in the flow 20 Of smoothest song, they come, they go, And leave their sweeter understrain, Its own sweet self--a love of Thee That seems, yet cannot greater be!

? 1802.

FOOTNOTES:

[388:1] First published in _Sibylline Leaves_, 1817: included in 1828, 1829, 1834. There is no evidence as to the date of composition.

LINENOTES:

[13] ask] fear S. L. (for _fear_ no sting read _ask_ no sting _Errata_, p. [xi]).

THE PAINS OF SLEEP[389:1]

Ere on my bed my limbs I lay, It hath not been my use to pray With moving lips or bended knees; But silently, by slow degrees, My spirit I to Love compose, 5 In humble trust mine eye-lids close, With reverential resignation, No wish conceived, no thought exprest, Only a sense of supplication; A sense o'er all my soul imprest 10 That I am weak, yet not unblest, Since in me, round me, every where Eternal Strength and Wisdom are.

But yester-night I prayed aloud In anguish and in agony, 15 Up-starting from the fiendish crowd Of shapes and thoughts that tortured me: A lurid light, a trampling throng, Sense of intolerable wrong, And whom I scorned, those only strong! 20 Thirst of revenge, the powerless will Still baffled, and yet burning still!

Desire with loathing strangely mixed On wild or hateful objects fixed.

Fantastic pa.s.sions! maddening brawl! 25 And shame and terror over all!

Deeds to be hid which were not hid, Which all confused I could not know Whether I suffered, or I did: For all seemed guilt, remorse or woe, 30 My own or others still the same Life-stifling fear, soul-stifling shame.