POEMSFROMCOLERIDGE'SPOEMS,1797

poemsfromcoleridge'spoems,1797

(summer,1795.textof1818)

whenlastirovedthesewindingwood-walksgreen,

greenwindingwalks,andshadypathwayssweet,

oft-timeswouldannaseekthesilentscene,

shroudingherbeautiesintheloneretreat.

nomoreihearherfootstepsintheshade:

herimageonlyinthesepleasantways

meetsmeself-wandering,whereinhappierdays

iheldfreeconversewiththefair-hair'dmaid.

ipassedthelittlecottagewhichsheloved,

thecottagewhichdidoncemyallcontain;

itspakeofdayswhichne'ermustcomeagain,

spaketomyheart,andmuchmyheartwasmoved.

"nowfairbefallthee,gentlemaid!"saidi,

andfromthecottageturnedmewithasigh.

(1795or1796.textof1818)

atimidgracesitstremblinginhereye,

asbothtomeettherudenessofmen'ssight,

yetsheddingadeliciouslunarlight,

thatsteepsinkindobliviousecstasy

thecare-crazedmind,likesomestillmelody:

speakingmostplainthethoughtswhichdopossess

hergentlesprite:peace,andmeekquietness,

andinnocentloves,andmaidenpurity:

alookwhereofmighthealthecruelsmart

ofchangedfriends,orfortune'swrongsunkind;

mighttosweetdeedsofmercymovetheheart

ofhimwhohateshisbrethrenofmankind.

turnedarethoselightsfromme,whofondlyyet

pastjoys,vainloves,andburiedhopesregret.

(endof1795.textof1818)

iffrommylipssomeangryaccentsfell,

peevishcomplaint,orharshreproofunkind,

'twasbuttheerrorofasicklymind

andtroubledthoughts,cloudingthepurerwell,

andwatersclear,ofreason;andforme

letthismyversethepooratonementbe—

myverse,whichthoutopraisewerteverinclined

toohighly,andwithapartialeyetosee

noblemish.thoutomedidstevershew

kindestaffection;andwouldoft-timeslend

aneartothedespondinglove-sicklay,

weepingmysorrowswithme,whorepay

butillthemightydebtofloveiowe,

mary,tothee,mysisterandmyfriend.

(1795.textof1818)

weweretwoprettybabes,theyoungestshe,

theyoungest,andtheloveliestfar,iween,

andinnocencehername.thetimehasbeen,