LETTER3

letter3

charleslambtos.t.coleridge

[begunwednesday,june8.datedonaddress:"friday10thjune,"1796.]

withjoanofarcihavebeendelighted,amazed.ihadnotpresumedtoexpectanythingofsuchexcellencefromsouthey.whythepoemisalonesufficienttoredeemthecharacteroftheageweliveinfromtheimputationofdegeneratinginpoetry,weretherenosuchbeingsextantasburnsandbowles,cowperand——filluptheblankhowyouplease,isaynothing.thesubjectiswellchosen.itopenswell.tobecomemoreparticular,iwillnoticeintheirorderafewpassagesthatchieflystruckmeonperusal.page26"fierceandterriblebenevolence!"isaphrasefullofgrandeurandoriginality.thewholecontextmademefeelpossess'd,evenlikejoanherself.page28,"itismosthorriblewiththekeenswordtogorethefinelyfibredhumanframe"andwhatfollowspleasedmemightily.inthe2dbookthefirstfortylines,inparticular,aremajesticandhigh-sounding.indeedthewholevisionofthepalaceofambitionandwhatfollowsaresupremelyexcellent.yoursimileofthelaplander"byniemi'slakeorbaldazhiok,orthemossystoneofsolfarkapper"—willbearcomparisonwithanyinmiltonforfullnessofcircumstanceandlofty-pacednessofversification.southey'ssimiles,tho'manyof'emarecapital,areallinferior.inoneofhisbooksthesimileoftheoakinthestormoccursithinkfourtimes!toreturn,thelightinwhichyouviewtheheathendeitiesisaccurateandbeautiful.southey'spersonificationsinthisbookaresomanyfineandfaultlesspictures.iwasmuchpleasedwithyourmannerofaccountingforthereasonwhymonarchstakedelightinwar.atthe447thlineyouhaveplacedprophetsandenthusiastscheekbyjowl,ontoointimateafootingforthedignityoftheformer.necessarian-like-speakingitiscorrect.page98"deadisthedouglas,coldthywarriorframe,illustriousbuchan"&careofkindredexcellencewithgray's"coldiscadwallo'stongue"&c.howfamouslythemaidbafflesthedoctors,seraphicandirrefragable,"withalltheirtrumpery!"126page,theprocession,theappearancesofthemaid,ofthebastardsonoforleansandoftremouille,arefulloffireandfancy,andexquisitemelodyofversification.thepersonificationsfromline303to309intheheatofthebattlehadbetterbeenomitted,theyarenotverystrikingandonlyencumber.theconversewhichjoanandconradeholdonthebanksoftheloireisaltogetherbeautiful.page313,theconjecturethatindreams"allthingsarethatseem"isoneofthoseconceitswhichthepoetdelightstoadmitintohiscreed—acreed,bytheway,moremarvellousandmysticthaneverathanasiusdream'dof.page315,ineedonlymentionthoselinesendingwith"shesawaserpentgnawingatherheart"!!!theyaregoodimitativelines"hetoildandtoild,oftoiltoreapnoend,butendlesstoilandneverendingwoe."347page,crueltyissuchashogarthmighthavepaintedher.page361,allthepassageaboutlove(whereheseemstoconfoundconjugallovewithcreatingandpreservinglove)isveryconfusedandsickensmewithaloadofuselesspersonifications.elsethat9thbookisthefinestinthevolume,anexquisitecombinationoftheludicrousandtheterrible,—ihaveneverreadeither,evenintranslation,butsuchasiconceivetobethemannerofdanteandariosto.the10thbookisthemostlanguid.onthewhole,consideringtheceleritywherewiththepoemwasfinish'd,iwasastonish'dattheinfrequencyofweaklines.ihadexpectedtofinditverbose.joan,ithink,doestoolittleinbattle—dunois,perhaps,thesame—conradetoomuch.theanecdotesinterspersedamongthebattlesrefreshthemindveryagreeably,andiamdelightedwiththeverymanypassagesofsimplepathosaboundingthroughoutthepoem—passageswhichtheauthorof"crazykate"mighthavewritten.hasnotmastersoutheyspokeveryslightinglyinhisprefaceanddisparaginglyofcowper'shomer?—whatmakeshimreluctanttogivecowperhisfame?

anddoesnotsoutheyusetoooftentheexpletives"did"and"does"?theyhaveagoodeffectattimes,butaretooinconsiderable,orratherbecomeblemishes,whentheymarkastyle.onthewhole,iexpectsoutheyonedaytorivalmilton.ialreadydeemhimequaltocowper,andsuperiortoalllivingpoetsbesides.whatsayscoleridge?the"monodyonhenderson"isimmenselygood;therestofthatlittlevolumeisreadableandabovemediocrity.iproceedtoamorepleasanttask,—pleasantbecausethepoemsareyours,pleasantbecauseyouimposethetaskonme,andpleasant,letmeadd,becauseitwillconferawhimsicalimportanceonmetositinjudgmentuponyourrhimes.firsttho',letmethankyouagainandagaininmyownandmysister'snameforyourinvitations.nothingcouldgiveusmorepleasurethantocome,but(weretherenootherreasons)whilemybrother'slegissobaditisoutofthequestion.poorfellow,heisveryfeverishandlightheaded,butcruikshankshaspronouncedthesymptomsfavorable,andgivesuseveryhopethattherewillbenoneedofamputation.godsend,not.wearenecessarilyconfinedwithhimtheafternoonandeveningtillverylate,sothatiamstealingafewminutestowritetoyou.thankyouforyourfrequentletters,youaretheonlycorrespondentandimightaddtheonlyfriendihaveintheworld.igonowhereandhavenoacquaintance.slowofspeech,andreservedofmanners,nooneseeksorcaresformysocietyandiamleftalone.allencallsonlyoccasionally,astho'itwereadutyrather,andseldomstaystenminutes.thenjudgehowthankfuliamforyourletters.donot,however,burthenyourselfwiththecorrespondence.itroubleyouagainsosoon,onlyinobediencetoyourinjunctions.complaintsapart,proceedwetoourtask.iamcalledawaytotea,thencemustwaituponmybrother,somustdelaytillto-morrow.farewell—wednesday.

thursday.iwillfirstnoticewhatisnewtome.13thpage."thethrillingtonesthatconcentratethesoul"isanervousline,andthe6firstlinesofpage14areverypretty.the21steffusionaperfectthing.thatinthemannerofspencerisverysweet,particularlyattheclose.the35theffusionismostexquisite—thatlineinparticular,"andtranquilmuseupontranquillity."itistheveryreflexpleasurethatdistinguishesthetranquillityofathinkingbeingfromthatofashepherd—amodernoneiwouldbeunderstoodtomean—adametas;onethatkeepsotherpeople'ssheep.certainly,coleridge,yourletterfromshurtonbarshaslessmeritthanmostthingsinyourvolume;personally,itmaychimeinbestwithyourownfeelings,andthereforeyouloveitbest.ithashowevergreatmerit.inyour4thepistlethatisanexquisiteparagraphandfancy-fullof"astreamthereiswhichrollsinlazyflow"&c.&c."murmurssweetundersong'midjasminebowers"isasweetlineandsoarethe3next.theconcludingsimileisfar-fetch'd."tempest-honord"isaquaint-ishphrase.ofthemonodyonh.,iwillhereonlynoticetheselines,assuperlativelyexcellent.thatenergeticone,"shallinotpraisethee,scholar,christian,friend,"liketothatbeautifulclimaxofshakspeare"king,hamlet,royaldane,father.""yetmemoryturnsfromlittlementothee!""andsportedcarelessroundtheirfellowchild."thewhole,irepeatit,isimmenselygood.yoursisapoeticalfamily.iwasmuchsurpriz'dandpleasedtoseethesignatureofsaratothatelegantcomposition,the5thepistle.idarenotcriticisethereligmusings,ilikenottoselectanypartwhereallisexcellent.icanonlyadmire;andthankyouforitinthenameofachristianaswellasaloverofgoodpoetry.onlyletmeask,isnotthatthoughtandthosewordsinyoung,"standsinthesun"?orisitonlysuchasyounginoneofhisbettermomentsmighthavewrit?"believe,thou,omysoul,lifeisavision,shadowyoftruth,andviceandanguishandthewormygrave,shapesofadream!"ithankyoufortheselines,inthenameofanecessarian,andforwhatfollowsinnextparagraphinthenameofachildoffancy.afterallyoucan[not]noreverwillwriteanything,withwhichishallbesodelightedaswhatihaveheardyourselfrepeat.youcametotown,andisawyouatatimewhenyourheartwasyetbleedingwithrecentwounds.likeyourself,iwassoregalledwithdisappointedhope.youhad"manyanholylay,thatmourning,soothedthemourneronhisway."ihadearsofsympathytodrinkthemin,andtheyyetvibratepleasantonthesense.whenireadinyourlittlevolume,your19theffusion,orthe28thor29th,orwhatyoucallthe"sigh,"ithinkihearyouagain.iimagetomyselfthelittlesmokyroomatthesalutationandcat,wherewehavesattogetherthro'thewinternights,beguilingthecaresoflifewithpoesy.whenyouleftlondon,ifeltadismalvoidinmyheart,ifoundmyselfcutoffatoneandthesametimefromtwomostdeartome."howblestwithyethepathcouldihavetrodofquietlife."inyourconversationyouhadblendedsomanypleasantfancies,thattheycheatedmeofmygrief.butinyourabsence,thetideofmelancholyrushdinagain,anddiditsworstmischiefbyoverwhelmingmyreason.ihaverecoverd.butfeelastuporthatmakesmeindifferenttothehopesandfearsofthislife.isometimeswishtointroduceareligiousturnofmind,buthabitsarestrongthings,andmyreligiousfervorsareconfinedalastosomefleetingmomentsofoccasionalsolitarydevotion—acorrespondence,openingwithyou,hasrousedmealittlefrommylethargy,andmademeconsciousofexistence.indulgemeinit.iwillnotbeverytroublesome.atsomefuturetimeiwillamuseyouwithanaccountasfullasmymemorywillpermitofthestrangeturnmyphrensytook.ilookbackuponitattimeswithagloomykindofenvy.

forwhileitlastedihadmanymanyhoursofpurehappiness.dreamnotcoleridge,ofhavingtastedallthegrandeurandwildnessoffancy,tillyouhavegonemad.allnowseemstomevapid;comparativelyso.excusethisselfishdigression.

yourmonodyissosuperlativelyexcellent,thaticanonlywishitperfect,whichican'thelpfeelingitisnotquite.indulgemeinafewconjectures.whatiamgoingtoproposewouldmakeitmorecompress'dandithinkmoreenergic,tho'iamsensibleattheexpenceofmanybeautifullines.letitbegin"isthisthelandofsong-ennobledline,"andproceedto"otway'sfamish'dform."then"theechatterton,"to"blazeofseraphim."then"cladinnature'sricharray,"to"orientday;"then"butsoonthescathinglightning,"to"blightedland."then"sublimeofthought"to"hisbosomglows."then"butsoonuponhispoorunshelteredheaddidpenuryhersicklymildewshed,andsoonarefledthecharmsofvernalgrace,andjoy'swildgleamsthatlightendo'erhisface!"then"youthoftumultuoussoul"to"sigh"asbefore.therestmayallstanddownto"gazeuponthewavesbelow."whatfollowsnowmaycomenext,asdetachedverses,estedbythemonody,ratherthanapartofit.theyareindeedinthemselvesverysweet"andweatsoberevewouldroundtheethrong,hangingenrapturedonthystatelysong"—inparticularperhaps.ifiamobscureyoumayunderstandmebycountinglines.ihaveproposedomitting24lines.ifeelthatthuscomprestitwouldgainenergy,butthinkitmostlikelyyouwillnotagreewithme,forwhoshallgoabouttobringopinionstothebedofprocrustesandintroduceamongthesonsofmenamonotonyofidenticalfeelings.ionlyproposewithdiffidence.reject,you,ifyouplease,withaslittleremorseasyouwouldthecolorofacoatorthepatternofabucklewhereourfanciesdiffer'd.thelines"friendtothefriendless"&c.whichyoumaythink"rudelydisbranched"fromthechattertonwillpatchinwiththemanofross,wheretheywereoncequiteathome,with2morewhichirecollect"ando'erthedowriedvirgin'ssnowycheekbadbridallovesuffusehisblushesmeek!"verybeautiful.thepixiesisaperfectthing,andsoarethelinesonthespring,page28.theepitaphonaninfant,likeajackoflanthorn,hasdancedabout(orlikedr.forster'sscholars)outofthemornchronintothewatchman,andthencebackintoyourcollection.itisverypretty,andyouseemtothinkso,but,maybeo'erlookeditschiefmerit,thatoffillingupawholepage.ihadoncedeemdsonnetsofunrivalledusethatway,butyourepitaphs,ifind,arethemorediffuse.edmundstillholdsitsplaceamongyourbestverses."ah!fairdelights"to"rosesround"inyourpoemcalledabsencerecall(nonemoreforcibly)tomymindthetonesinwhichyourecitedit.iwillnotnoticeinthistedious(toyou)mannerverseswhichhavebeensolongdelightfultome,andwhichyoualreadyknowmyopinionof.ofthiskindarebowles,priestly,andthatmostexquisiteandmostbowles-likeofall,the19theffusion.itwouldhavebetterendedwith"agonyofcare."thelast2linesareobviousandunnecessaryandyouneednotnowmake14linesofit,nowitisrechristendfromasonnettoaneffusion.schillermighthavewrittenthe20effusion.'tisworthyofhiminanysense.iwasgladtomeetwiththoselinesyousentme,whenmysisterwassoill.ihadlostthecopy,andifeltnotalittleproudatseeingmynameinyourverse.thecomplaintofninathoma(1ststanzainparticular)isthebest,oronlygoodimitation,ofossianieversaw—yourrestlessgaleexcepted."toaninfant"ismostsweet—isnot"foodful,"tho',veryharsh!wouldnot"dulcet"fruitbelessharsh,orsomeotherfriendlybi-syllable?inedmund,"frenzyfierce-eyedchild,"isnotsowellasfrantic—tho'thatisanepithetaddingnothingtothemeaning.slandercouchingwasbetterthansquatting.inthemanofrossitwasabetterlinethus"if'neaththisroofthywine-chear'dmomentspass"thanasitstandsnow.timenornothingcanreconcilemetotheconcluding5linesofkosciusko:callitanythingyouwillbutsublime.

inmy12theffusionihadratherhaveseenwhatiwrotemyself,tho'theybearnocomparisonwithyourexquisitelines"onrose-leaf'dbedsamidyourfaerybowers,"&c.—ilovemysonnetsbecausetheyarethereflectedimagesofmyownfeelingsatdifferenttimes.toinstance,inthe13th"howreasonreel'd,"&c.—aregoodlinesbutmustspoilthewholewithmewhoknowitisonlyafictionofyoursandthattherudedashingsdidinfactnotrockmetorepose,igrantthesameobjectionappliesnottotheformersonnet,butstillilovemyownfeelings.theyaredeartomemory,tho'theynowandthenwakeasighoratear."thinkingondiversthingsforedone,"ichargeyou,col.,sparemyewelambs,andtho'agentlemanmayborrowsixlinesinanepicpoem(ishouldhavenoobjectiontoborrow500andwithoutacknowledging)stillinasonnet—apersonalpoem—idonot"askmyfriendtheaidingverse."iwouldnotwrongyourfeelingsbyproposinganyimprovements(didithinkmyselfcapableofesting'em)insuchpersonalpoemsas"thoubleedestmypoorheart"—'odso,iamcatchd,ihavealreadydoneit—butthatsimileiproposeabridgingwouldnotchangethefeelingorintroduceanyalienones.doyouunderstandme?inthe28thhowever,andinthe"sigh"andthatcomposedatclevedon,thingsthatcomefromtheheartdirect,notbythemediumofthefancy,iwouldnotestanalteration.whenmyblankverseisfinished,oranylongfancypoems,"propinotibialterandum,cut-up-andum,abridg-andum,"justwhatyouwillwithit—butsparemyewelambs!thattomrs.siddonsnowyouwerewelcometoimprove,ifithadbeenworthit.butisayuntoyouagain,col.,sparemyewelambs.imustconfessweretheymineishouldomit,ineditionesecundâ,effusions2-3,becausesatiric,andbelowthedignityofthepoetofreligiousmusings,5-7,halfofthe8th,thatwritteninearlyyouth,asfaras"thousandeyes,"—tho'ipartnotunreluctantlywiththatlivelyline"chastejoyancedancinginherbright-blueeyes"andoneor2morejustthereabouts.butiwouldsubstituteforitthatsweetpoemcalled"recollection"inthe5thno.ofthewatchman,betterithinkthantheremainderofthispoem,tho'notdifferingmaterially.asthepoemnowstandsitlooksaltogetherconfused.anddonotomitthoselinesuponthe"earlyblossom,"inyour6thno.ofthewatchman,andiwouldomitthe10theffusion—orwhatwoulddobetter,alterandimprovethelast4lines.infact,isupposeiftheyweremineishouldnotomit'em.butyourverseisforthemostpartsoexquisite,thatilikenottoseeaughtofmeanermattermixedwithit.forgivemypetulanceandoften,ifear,illfoundedcriticisms,andforgivemethatihave,bythistime,madeyoureyesandheadachwithmylongletter.buticannotforegohastilythepleasureandprideofthusconversingwithyou.

youdidnottellmewhetheriwastoincludetheconcionesadpopuluminmyremarksonyourpoems.theyarenotunfrequentlysublime,andithinkyoucouldnotdobetterthantoturn'emintoverse,—ifyouhavenothingelsetodo.alleniamsorrytosayisaconfirmedatheist.stodart,orstothard,acoldheartedwellbredconceiteddiscipleofgodwin,doeshimnogood.hiswifehasseveraldaughters(oneof'emasoldashimself).surelythereissomethingunnaturalinsuchamarriage.howisympathisewithyouonthedulldutyofareviewer,andheartilydamnwithyounedevansandtheprosodist.ishallhoweverwaitimpatientlyforthearticlesinthecrit.rev.,nextmonth,becausetheyareyours.youngevans(w.evans,abranchofafamilyyouwereoncesointimatewith)iscomeintoouroffice,andsendshislovetoyou.coleridge,idevoutlywishthatfortune,whohasmadesportwithyousolong,mayplayonefreakmore,throwyouintolondon,orsomespotnearit,andtheresnug-ifyyouforlife.'tisaselfishbutnaturalwishforme,castasiam"onlife'swideplain,friend-less."areyouacquaintedwithbowles?isee,byhislastelegy(writtenatbath),youarenearneighbours."andicanthinkicanseethegrovesagain—wasitthevoiceofthee—twasnotthevoiceofthee,myburiedfriend—whodrieswithherdarklocksthetendertear"—aretouchesastruetonatureasanyinhisotherelegy,writtenatthehotwells,aboutpoorrussell,&c.—youaredoubtlessacquaintedwithit.—thursday.

idonotknowthatientirelyagreewithyouinyourstrictureuponmysonnettoinnocence.tomenwhoseheartsarenotquitedeadenedbytheircommercewiththeworld,innocence(nolongerfamiliar)becomesanawfulidea.soifeltwheniwroteit.yourothercensures(qualifiedandsweeten'd,tho',withpraisessomewhatextravagant)iperfectlycoincidewith.yetichusetoretaintheword"lunar"—indulgea"lunatic"inhisloyaltytohismistressthemoon.ihavejustbeenreadingamostpatheticcopyofversesonsophiapringle,whowashangedandburn'dforcoining.oneofthestrokesofpathos(whichareverymany,allsomewhatobscure)is"sheliftedupherguiltyforgertoheaven."anoteexplainsbyforgerherrighthandwithwhichsheforgedorcoinedthebasemetal!forpathosreadbathos.youhaveputmeoutofconceitwithmyblankversebyyourreligiousmusings.ithinkitwillcometonothing.idonotlike'emenoughtosend'em.ihavejustbeenreadingabook,whichimaybetoopartialto,asitwasthedelightofmychildhood;butiwillrecommendittoyou—itis"izaakwalton'scompleteangler!"allthescientificpartyoumayomitinreading.thedialogueisverysimple,fullofpastoralbeauties,andwillcharmyou.manyprettyoldversesareinterspersed.thisletter,whichwouldbeaweek'sworkreadingonly,idonotwishyoutoanswerinlessthanamonth.ishallberichlycontentwithaletterfromyousomedayearlyinjuly—tho'ifyougetanyhowsettledbeforethenprayletmeknowitimmediately—'twouldgivemesuchsatisfaction.concerningtheunitarianchapel,thesalaryistheonlyscruplethatthemostrigidmoralistwouldadmitasvalid.concerningthetutorage—isnotthesalarylow,andabsencefromyourfamilyunavoidable?londonistheonlyfosteringsoilforgenius.

nothingmoreoccursjustnow,soiwillleaveyouinmercyonesmallwhitespotemptybelow,toreposeyoureyesupon,fatiguedastheymustbewiththewildernessofwordstheyhavebythistimepainfullytravell'dthro'.godloveyou,coleridge,andprosperyouthro'life,tho'minewillbelossifyourlotistobecastatbristoloratnottinghamoranywherebutlondon.ourlovestomrs.c—.

c.l.

[southey'sjoanofarc,withcontributionstobookii.bycoleridge,hadbeenpublishedinquartobycottle.coleridgecontributedtobookii.thefirst450lines,withtheexceptionof141-143,148-222,266-272and286-291.hesubsequentlytookouthislinesandgavethemnewshapeasthepoem"thedestinyofnations,"printedinsibyllineleaves,1817.allsubsequenteditionsofsouthey'spoemappearedwithoutcoleridge'sportion.thepassagesonpage26andpage28weresouthey's.thoseatthebeginningofthesecondbookwerecoleridge's.thesimileofthelaplandermaybereadin"thedestinyofnations"(lines63-79).thesewerethereasonsgivenbycoleridgeformonarchsmakingwar:—

whenluxuryandlust'sexhaustedstores

nomorecanrousetheappetitesofkings;

whenthelowflatteryoftheirreptilelords

fallsflatandheavyontheaccustomedear;

wheneunuchssing,andfoolsbuffoon'rymake.

anddancerswrithetheirharlotlimbsinvain:

thenwarandallitsdreadvicissitudes

pleasinglyagitatetheirstagnanthearts….

the447thlinewascoleridge's.thisisthepassage:—

whetherthylawwithunrefractedray

beamontheprophet'spurgedeye,orif

diseasingrealmstheenthusiast,wildofthought,

scatternewfrenziesontheinfectedthrong,

thou,bothinspiringandforedooming,both

fitinstrumentsandbestofperfectend.

withpage98wecometosoutheyagain,theremainingreferencesbeingtohim.themaidbafflesthedoctorsinbookiii.;page126isinbookiv.;thepersonificationsareinbookvi.;theconversebetweenjoanandconradeisinbookiv.;page313isatthebeginningofbookix.;andpages315,347and361arealsoinbookix.southeyintheprefacetojoanofarc,speakingofhomer,says:"popehasdisguisedhiminfop-fineryandcowperhasstrippedhimnaked.""crazykate"isanepisodeinthetask("thesofa").

the"monodyonjohnhenderson,"byjosephcottle,wasprintedanonymouslyinavolumeofpoemsin1795,andagaininthemalvernhill.johnhenderson(1757-1788)wasaneccentricscholarofbristol.thelinespraisedbylambarethe4th,12thand14th.thepoemmustnotbeconfusedwiththemonodyonhenderson,theactor,byg.d.harley.

lambnowturnsagaintocoleridge'spoems.thepoemonthe13thand14thpagesofthislittlevolumewas"totherev.w.j.h."the21steffusionwasthatentitled"composedwhileclimbingtheleftascentofbrockleycoomb."the35theffusionisknownas"theaeolianharp."theletterfromshurtonbarsisthepoembeginning—

nortravelsmymeand'ringeye.

the4thepistleisthattojosephcottle,coleridge'spublisherandthe

authorofthe"monodyonhenderson,"referredtoincoleridge'sverses.

thelineswhichlamb"esarecottle's.thepoembysaracoleridgeis

"thesilverthimble."thepassageinthe"religiousmusings,"forwhich

lambisthankfulasa"childoffancy,"isthelastparagraph:—

contemplantspirits!yethathovero'er

withuntiredgazetheimmeasurablefount

ebullientwithcreativedeity!

andyeofplasticpower,thatinterfused

rollthroughthegrosserandmaterialmass

inorganisingsurge!holiesofgod!

(andwhatifmonadsoftheinfinitemind?)

ihaplyjourneyingmyimmortalcourse

shallsometimejoinyourmysticchoir!

tillthen

idisciplinemyyoungnoviciatethought

inministeriesofheart-stirringsong,