POEMSINCOLERIDGE'SPOEMSONVARIOUSSUBJECTS,1796

poemsincoleridge'spoemsonvarioussubjects,1796

(writtenlatein1794.textof1797)

aswhenachildonsomelongwinter'snight

affrightedclingingtoitsgrandam'sknees

witheagerwond'ringandperturb'ddelight

listensstrangetalesoffearfuldarkdecrees

mutter'dtowretchbynecromanticspell;

orofthosehags,whoatthewitchingtime

ofmurkymidnightridetheairsublime,

andminglefoulembracewithfiendsofhell:

coldhorrordrinksitsblood!anonthetear

moregentlestarts,tohearthebeldametell

ofprettybabes,thatlov'deachotherdear,

murder'dbycrueluncle'smandatefell:

ev'nsuchtheshiv'ringjoysthytonesimpart,

ev'nsothou,siddons!meltestmysadheart!

(probably1795.textof1818)

wasitsomesweetdeviceoffaery

thatmockedmystepswithmanyalonelyglade,

andfanciedwanderingswithafair-hair'dmaid?

havethesethingsbeen?orwhatrarewitchery,

impregningwithdelightsthecharmedair,

enlightedupthesemblanceofasmile

inthosefineeyes?methoughttheyspakethewhile

softsoothingthings,whichmightenforcedespair

todropthemurderingknife,andletgoby

hisfoulresolve.anddoesthelonelyglade

stillcourtthefoot-stepsofthefair-hair'dmaid?

stillinherlocksthegalesofsummersigh?

whileiforlorndowanderrecklesswhere,

and'midmywanderingsmeetnoannathere.

(probably1795.textof1818)

methinkshowdaintysweetitwere,reclin'd

beneaththevastout-stretchingbrancheshigh

ofsomeoldwood,incarelesssorttolie,

norofthebusierscenesweleftbehind

aughtenvying.and,oanna!mild-eyedmaid!

beloved!iwerewellcontenttoplay

withthyfreetressesallasummer'sday,

losingthetimebeneaththegreenwoodshade.

orwemightsitandtellsometendertale

offaithfulvowsrepaidbycruelscorn,

ataleoftruelove,oroffriendforgot;

andiwouldteachthee,lady,howtorail

ingentlesort,onthosewhopractisenot

orloveorpity,thoughofwomanborn.

(1794.textof1818)

o!icouldlaughtohearthemidnightwind,

that,rushingonitswaywithcarelesssweep,

scatterstheoceanwaves.andicouldweep