LETTER2

letter2

charleslambtos.t.coleridge

[probablybeguneitherontuesday,may24,ortuesday,may31,1796.

postmark?june1.]

iaminsuchviolentpainwiththeheadachthatiamfitfornothingbuttranscribing,scarceforthat.whenigetyourpoems,andthejoanofarc,iwillexercisemypresumptioningivingyoumyopinionof'em.themaildoesnotcomeinbeforetomorrow(wednesday)morning.thefollowingsonnetwascomposedduringawalkdownintohertfordshireearlyinlastsummer.

thelordoflightshakesoffhisdrowsyhed.注释标题drowsyhedihavemetwithithinkinspencer.tisanoldthing,butitrhymeswithled&rhymingcoversamultitudeoflicences.

freshfromhiscouchupspringsthelustysun,

andgirdshimselfhismightyracetorun.

meantime,bytruantloveoframblingled,

iturnmybackonthydetestedwalls,

proudcity,andthysonsileavebehind,

aselfish,sordid,money-gettingkind,

whoshuttheirearswhenholyfreedomcalls.

ipassnottheesolightly,humblespire,

thatmindestmeofmanyapleasuregone,

ofmerriestdays,ofloveandislington,

kindlinganewtheflamesofpastdesire;

andishallmuseonthee,slowjourneyingon,

tothegreenplainsofpleasanthertfordshire.

thelastlineisacopyofbowles's,"tothegreenhamletinthepeacefulplain."yourearsarenotsoveryfastidious—manypeoplewouldnotlikewordssoprosaicandfamiliarinasonnetasislingtonandhertfordshire.thenextwaswrittenwithinadayortwoofthelast,onrevisitingaspotwherethescenewaslaidofmy1stsonnetthat"mock'dmystepwithmanyalonelyglade."

whenlastirovedthesewindingwood-walksgreen,

greenwindingwalks,andpathwaysshady-sweet,

oftimeswouldannaseekthesilentscene,

shroudingherbeautiesintheloneretreat.

nomoreihearherfootstepsintheshade;

herimageonlyinthesepleasantways

meetsmeself-wandringwhereinbetterdays

iheldfreeconversewithmyfair-hair'dmaid.

ipass'dthelittlecottage,whichsheloved,

thecottagewhichdidoncemyallcontain:

itspakeofdaysthatne'ermustcomeagain,

spaketomyheartandmuchmyheartwasmoved.

"nowfairbefallthee,gentlemaid,"saidi,

andfromthecottageturn'dme,withasigh.

thenextretainsafewlinesfromasonnetofmine,whichyouonceremarkedhadno"bodyofthought"init.iagreewithyou,buthavepreservedapartofit,anditrunsthus.iflattermyselfyouwilllikeit.

atimidgracesitstremblinginhereye,

asbothtomeettherudenessofmen'ssight,

yetsheddingadeliciouslunarlight,

thatsteepsinkindobliviousextacy

thecare-craz'dmind,likesomestillmelody;

speakingmostplainthethoughtswhichdopossess

hergentlesprite,peaceandmeekquietness,

andinnocentloves,注释标题cowleyusesthisphrasewithasomewhatdifferentmeaning:imeantlovesofrelativesfriends&c.andmaidenpurity.

alookwhereofmighthealthecruelsmart

ofchangedfriends,orfortune'swrongsunkind;

mighttosweetdeedsofmercymovetheheart

ofhim,whohateshisbrethrenofmankind.

turnedarethosebeamsfromme,whofondlyyet

pastjoys,vainloves,andburiedhopesregret.

thenextandlastivaluemostofall.'twascomposedcloseupontheheelsofthelastinthatverywoodihadinmindwheniwrote"methinkshowdaintysweet."