LETTER20

letter20

charleslambtos.t.coleridge

[p.m.jan.10,1797.]

saturday.

iamcompletelyreconciledtothatsecondstrophe,andwa[i]veallobjection.inspiteofthegrecianlyrists,ipersiston[in]thinkingyourbriefpersonificationofmadnessuseless;reverenceforbidsmetosay,impertinent.goldenlocksandsnowwhitegloriesareasincongruousasyourformer,andifthegreatitalianpainters,ofwhommyfriendknowsaboutasmuchasthemaninthemoon,ifthesegreatgentlemenbeonyourside,iseenoharminretainingthepurple—thegloriesthatihaveobservedtoencircletheheadsofsaintsandmadonnasinthoseoldpaintingshavebeenmostlyofadirtydrab-color'dyellow—adullgambogium.keepyouroldline:itwillexciteaconfusedkindofpleasurableideainthereader'smind,notclearenoughtobecalledaconception,norjustenough,ithink,toreducetopainting.itisarichline,yousay,andricheshideamanyfaults.imaintain,thatinthe2dantist:youdodisjoinnatureandtheworld,andcontrarytoyourconductinthe2dstrophe."naturejoinshergroans"—joinswithwhom,agod'sname,buttheworldorearthinlinepreceding?butthisisbeingovercurious,iacknowledge.nordidicallthelastlineuseless,ionlyobjectedto"unhurld."icannotbemadetoliketheformerpartofthat2depode;icannotbemadetofeelit,asidotheparallelplacesinisaiah,jeremyanddaniel.whetheritisthatinthepresentcasetherhymeimpairstheefficacy;orthatthecircumstancesarefeigned,andweareconsciousofamadeuplyeinthecase,andthenarrativeistoolongwindedtopreservethesemblanceoftruth;orthatlines8.9.10.14inpartic:17and18aremeanandunenthusiastic;orthatlines5to8intheirchangeofrhymeshewlikeart—idon'tknow,butitstrikesmeassomethingmeanttoaffect,andfailinginitspurpose.remembermywaywardnessoffeelingissingle,andsinglystandsopposedtoallyourfriends,andwhatisoneamongmany!thisiknow,thatyour"ationsfromtheprophetshaveneverescapedme,andneverfail'dtoaffectmestrongly.ihatethatsimile.iamgladyouhaveamendedthatparenthesisintheaccountofdestruction.ilikeitwellnow.onlyutter[?omit]thathistoryofchild-bearing,andallwilldowell.lettheobnoxiousepoderemain,toterrifysuchofyourfriendsasarewillingtobeterrified.ithinkiwouldomitthenotes,notasnotgoodperse,butasuncongenialwiththedignityoftheode.ineednotrepeatmywishestohavemylittlesonnetsprintedverbatimmylastway.inparticular,ifearlestyoushouldpreferprintingmyfirstsonnet,asyouhavedonemorethanonce,"didthewandofmerlinwave"?itlookssolikemr.merlin,theingeniousessoroftheimmortalmerlin,nowlivingingoodhealthandspirits,andnourishinginmagicalreputationinoxfordstreet;andonmylife,onehalfwhoreaditwouldunderstanditso.doput'emforthfinallyasihave,invariousletters,settledit;forfirstaman'sselfistobepleased,andthenhisfriends,—and,ofcoursethegreaternumberofhisfriends,iftheydifferinterse.thustastemaysafelybeputtothevote.idolongtoseeournamestogether—notforvanity'ssake,andnaughtyprideofheartaltogether,fornotalivingsoul,iknoworamintimatewith,willscarcereadthebook—soishallgainnothingquoadfamam,—andyetthereisalittlevanitymixesinit,icannothelpdenying.iamawareoftheunpoeticalcastofthe6lastlinesofmylastsonnet,andthinkmyselfunwarrantedinlingsotameathingintothebook;onlythesentimentsofthose6linesarethoroughlycongenialtomeinmystateofmind,andiwishtoaccumulateperpetuatingtokensofmyaffectiontopoormary;thatithasnooriginalityinitscast,noranythinginthefeelings,butwhatiscommonandnaturaltothousands,noraughtproperlycalledpoetry,isee;stillitwilltendtokeeppresenttomymindaviewofthingswhichioughttoindulge.

these6lines,too,havenot,toareader,aconnectednesswiththeforegoing.omitit,ifyoulike.—whatatreasureitistomypoorindolentandunemployedmind,thustolayholdonasubjecttotalkabout,tho''tisbutasonnetandthatofthelowestorder.howmournfullyinactiveiam!—'tisnight:good-night.

mysister,ithankgod,isnighrecovered.shewasseriouslyill.do,inyournextletter,andthatrightsoon,givemesomesatisfactionrespectingyourpresentsituationatstowey.isitafarmyouhavegot?andwhatdoesyourworshipknowaboutfarming?coleridge,iwantyoutowriteanepicpoem.nothingshortofitcansatisfythevastcapacityoftruepoeticgenius.havingonegreatendtodirectallyourpoeticalfacultiesto,andonwhichtolayoutyourhopes,yourambition,willshewyoutowhatyouareequal.bythesacredenergiesofmilton,bythedaintysweetandsoothingphantasiesofhoneytonguedspenser,iadjureyoutoattempttheepic.ordosomethingmoreamplethanwritinganoccasionalbriefodeorsonnet;something"tomakeyourselfforeverknown,—tomaketheagetocomeyourown".butiprate;doubtlessyoumeditatesomething.whenyouareexaltedamongthelordsofepicfame,ishallrecallwithpleasure,andexultingly,thedaysofyourhumility,whenyoudisdainednottoputforthinthesamevolumewithmine,yourreligiousmusings,andthatotherpoemfromthejoanofarc,thosepromisingfirstfruitsofhighrenowntocome.youhavelearning,youhavefancy,youhaveenthusiasm—youhavestrengthandamplitudeofwingenowforflightslikethoseirecommend.inthevastandunexploredregionsoffairyland,thereisgroundenoughunfoundanduncultivated;searchthere,andrealizeyourfavouritesusquehanahscheme.inallourcomparisonsoftaste,idonotknowwhetherihaveeverheardyouropinionofapoet,verydeartome,thenowoutoffashioncowley—favormewithyourjudgmentofhim,andtellmeifhisproseessays,inparticular,aswellasnoinconsiderablepartofhisverse,benotdelicious.ipreferthegracefulramblingofhisessays,eventothecourtlyeleganceandeaseofaddison—abstractingfromthisthelatter'sexquisitehumour.whyisnotyourpoemonburnsinthemonthlymagazine?iwasmuchdisappointed.ihaveapleasurablebutconfusedremembranceofit.

whenthelittlevolumeisprinted,sendme3or4,atalleventsnotmorethan6copies,andtellmeifiputyoutoanyadditionalexpence,byprintingwithyou.ihavenothoughtofthekind,andinthatcase,mustreimburseyou.myepistleisamodelofunconnectedness,butihavenopartic:subjecttowriteon,andmustproportionmyscribbleinsomedegreetotheincreaseofpostage.itisnotquitefair,consideringhowburdensomeyourcorrespondencefromdifferentquartersmustbe,toaddtoitwithsolittleshewofreason.iwillmakeanendforthisevening.sundayeven:—farewell.

priestly,whomisininalmostadoring,speaksof"suchachoiceofcompany,astendstokeepupthatrightbent,andfirmnessofmind,whichanecessaryintercoursewiththeworldwouldotherwisewarpandrelax.suchfellowshipisthetruebalsamoflife,itscementisinfinitelymoredurablethanthatofthefriendshipsoftheworld,anditlooksforitsproperfruit,andcompletegratification,tothelifebeyondthegrave."isthereapossiblechanceforsuchanoneasmetorealizeinthisworld,suchfriendships?whereamitolookfor'em?whattestimonialsshallibringofmybeingworthyofsuchfriendship?alas!thegreatandgoodgotogetherinseparateherds,andleavesuchasmetolagfarfarbehindinallintellectual,andfarmoregrievoustosay,inallmoral,accomplishments.coleridge,ihavenotonetrulyelevatedcharacteramongmyacquaintance:notonechristian:notonebutundervalueschristianity.singlywhatamitodo?wesley(haveyoureadhislife?washenotanelevatedcharacter?)wesleyhassaid,"religionisnotasolitarything."alas!itnecessarilyissowithme,ornexttosolitary.'tistrue,youwritetome.butcorrespondencebyletter,andpersonalintimacy,areverywidelydifferent.do,dowritetome,anddosomegoodtomymind,alreadyhowmuch"warpedandrelaxed"bytheworld!—'tistheconclusionofanotherevening.goodnight.godhaveusallinhiskeeping.ifyouaresufficientlyatleisure,obligemewithanaccountofyourplanoflifeatstowey—yourliteraryoccupationsandprospects—inshortmakemeacquaintedwitheverycircumstance,which,asrelatingtoyou,canbeinterestingtome.areyouyetaberkleyan?makemeone.irejoiceinbeing,speculatively,anecessarian.wouldtogod,iwerehabituallyapracticalone.confirmmeinthefaithofthatgreatandgloriousdoctrine,andkeepmesteadyinthecontemplationofit.yousometimesinceexprestanintentionyouhadoffinishingsomeextensiveworkontheevidencesofnaturalandrevealedreligion.haveyouletthatintentiongo?orareyoudoinganythingtowardsit?maketoyourselfothertentalents.myletterisfullofnothingness.italkofnothing.butimusttalk.ilovetowritetoyou.itakeaprideinit.itmakesmethinklessmeanlyofmyself.itmakesmethinkmyselfnottotallydisconnectedfromthebetterpartofmankind.iknow,iamtoodissatisfiedwiththebeingsaroundme,—buticannothelpoccasionallyexclaiming"woeisme,thatiamconstrainedtodwellwithmeshech,andtohavemyhabitationamongthetentsofkedar"—iknowiamnowaysbetterinpracticethanmyneighbours—butihaveatasteforreligion,anoccasionalearnestaspirationafterperfection,whichtheyhavenot.igainnothingbybeingwithsuchasmyself—weencourageoneanotherinmediocrity—iamalwayslongingtobewithmenmoreexcellentthanmyself.allthismustsoundoddtoyou;butthesearemypredominantfeelings,whenisitdowntowritetoyou,andishouldputforceuponmymind,wereitorejectthem.yetirejoyce,andfeelmyprivilegewithgratitude,whenihavebeenreadingsomewisebook,suchasihavejustbeenreading—priestleyonphilosophicalnecessity—inthethoughtthatienjoyakindofcommunion,akindoffriendshipeven,withthegreatandgood.booksaretomeinsteadoffriends.iwishtheydidnotresemblethelatterintheirscarceness.—andhowdoeslittledavidhartley?"ecquidinantiquamvirtutem?"—doeshismightynameworkwondersyetuponhislittleframe,andopeningmind?ididnotdistinctlyunderstandyou,—youdon'tmeantomakeanactualploughmanofhim?mrs.c——isnodoubtwell,—givemykindestrespectstoher.islloydwithyouyet?—areyouintimatewithsouthey?whatpoemsisheabouttopublish—hehathamostprolificbrain,andisindeedamostsweetpoet.buthowcanyouanswerallthevariousmassofinterrogationihaveputtoyouinthecourseofthissheet.

writebackjustwhatyoulike,onlywritesomething,howeverbrief.ihavenownighfinishedmypage,andgottotheendofanotherevening(mondayevening)—andmyeyesareheavyandsleepy,andmybrainestive.ihavejustheartenoughawaketosaygoodnightoncemore,andgodloveyoumydearfriend,godloveusall.marybearsanaffectionateremembranceofyou.

charleslamb.

[thecriticismscontainedinthefirstparagraphbearuponcoleridge's"odeonthedepartingyear,"whichhadalreadyappearedtwice,inthecambridgeintelligencerandinaquartoissuedbycottle,andwasnowbeingrevisedforthesecondeditionofthepoems.

thepersonificationofmadnesswascontainedintheline,afterwardsomitted:—

forstilldoesmadnessroamonguilt'sblackdizzyheight.

lamb'sobjectiontothisline,consideringhishomecircumstancesatthetime,wasverynatural.inantistrophei.coleridgeoriginallysaidoftheetherealmultitudeinheaven—

whosepurplelockswithsnow-whitegloriesshone.

inthe1797poemsthelineran—

whosewreathedlockswithsnow-whitegloriesshone;

andinthefinalversion—

whoselockswithwreaths,whosewreathswithgloriesshone.

coleridgemusthavesupportedhiscase,intheletterwhichlambisanswering,byareferencetotheitalianpainters.

coleridgeinthe1797editionofhispoemsmadenoalterationtomeetlamb'sstrictures.thesimilethatlambhatedis,iimagine,thatofthesoldieronthewarfield."thehistoryofchild-bearing"referredtoisthepassageattheendofstropheii.tothequartocoleridgehadappendedvariousnotes.in1797hehadonlythree,andaddedanargument.

thereferencetomerlinwillbeexplainedbyaglanceattheparallelsonnetsabove.merlinwasentirelycoleridge'sidea.aconjurorofthatnamewasjustthenamonglondon'sattractions.

the"lastsonnet,"whichwasnotthelastinthe1797volume,butthe6th,wasthatbeginning"iffrommylips"(seefirstletter).

inconnectionwithlamb'squestiononthestoweyhusbandry,thefollowing"ationfromaletterfromcoleridgetotherev.j.p.estlin,belongingtothisperiod,isinteresting;—

ourhouseisbetterthanweexpected—thereisacomfortablebedroomandsitting-roomforc.lloyd,andanotherforus,aroomfornanny,akitchen,andout-house.beforeourdooraclearbrookrunsofverysoftwater;andinthebackyardisanicewelloffinespringwater.wehaveaveryprettygarden,andlargeenoughtofindusvegetablesandemployment,andiamalreadyanexpertgardener,andbothmyhandscanexhibitacallumastestimonialsoftheirindustry.wehavelikewiseasweetorchard.

writingalittlebeforethistocharleslloyd,senior,coleridgehadsaid:"mydaysishalldevotetotheacquirementofpracticalhusbandryandhorticulture."

thepoemonburnswasthat"toafriend[lamb]whohaddeclaredhisintentionofwritingnomorepoetry."itwasprintedfirstinabristolpaperandthenintheannualanthology,1800.

priestley'sremarkisinthededicationtojohnlee,esq.,oflincoln's

inn,of"afreediscussionofthedoctrinesofmaterialismand

philosophicalnecessityinacorrespondencebetweendr.priceanddr.

priestley,"etc.,includedindisquisitionsrelatingtomatterand

spirit,vol.iii.,1778.thediscussionarosefromthepublicationby

priestleyofthedoctrineofphilosophicalnecessityillustrated,

whichitselfisanappendagetodisquisitionsrelatingtomatterand

spirit.

threelivesatleastofjohnwesleywerepublishedinthetwoyearsfollowinghisdeathin1791.coleridgelaterstudiedwesleyclosely,forheaddedvaluablenotestosouthey'slife(seethe1846edition).

"aberkleyan,"i.e.,afollowerofbishopberkeley(1685-1753),whoinhisnewtheoryofvisionandlaterworksmaintainedthat"whatwecallmatterhasnoactualexistence,andthattheimpressionswhichwebelieveourselvestoreceivefromitarenot,infact,derivedfromanythingexternaltoourselves,butareproducedwithinusbyacertaindispositionofthemind,theimmediateoperationofgod"(benham'sdictionaryofreligion).

coleridgewhensendingsoutheyoneversionofhispoemtocharleslamb,entitled"thislime-treebowermyprison"(towhichweshallcomelater),injuly,1797,appendedtothefollowingpassagethenote,"yourememberiamaberkleian":—

struckwithjoy'sdeepestcalm,andgazinground

onthewideview,maygazetillalldothseem

lessgrossthanbodily;alivingthing

thatactsuponthemind,andwithsuchhues

asclothethealmightyspirit,whenhemakes

spiritsperceivehispresence!

"anecessarian."weshouldnowsayafatalist.

coleridge'sworkonthe"evidencesofnaturalandrevealedreligion,"whichhasbeforebeenmentioned,was,ifeverbegun,nevercompleted.]