The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Chapter 360 : 55 His native accents to her stranger's ear, Skill'd in the tongues of Franc

55

His native accents to her stranger's ear, Skill'd in the tongues of France and Italy-- Or while she warbles with bright eyes upraised, Her fingers shoot like streams of silver light Amid the golden haze of thrilling strings.

Undated. First published from an MS. in 1893.

56

Each crime that once estranges from the virtues Doth make the memory of their features daily More dim and vague, till each coa.r.s.e counterfeit Can have the pa.s.sport to our confidence Sign'd by ourselves. And fitly are they punish'd Who prize and seek the honest man but as A safer lock to guard dishonest treasures.

? S. T. C. Undated. First published in _Lit. Rem._, i. 281. First collected _P. and D. W._, 1877, ii. 365.

57

Where'er I find the Good, the True, the Fair, I ask no names--G.o.d's spirit dwelleth there!

The unconfounded, undivided Three, Each for itself, and all in each, to see In man and Nature, is Philosophy.

Undated. First published from an MS. in 1893.

58

A wind that with Aurora hath abiding Among the Arabian and the Persian Hills.

Undated. First published from an MS. in 1893.

59

I [S. T. C.] find the following lines among my papers, in my own writing, but whether an unfinished fragment, or a contribution to some friend's production, I know not:--

What boots to tell how o'er his grave She wept, that would have died to save; Little they know the heart, who deem Her sorrow but an infant's dream Of transient love begotten; A pa.s.sing gale, that as it blows Just shakes the ripe drop from the rose-- That dies and is forgotten.

O Woman! nurse of hopes and fears, All lovely in thy spring of years, Thy soul in blameless mirth possessing, Most lovely in affliction's tears, More lovely still than tears suppressing.

Undated. First published in Allsop's _Letters, Conversations_, &c. First collected _P. and D. W._, 1877, ii. 373.

60

THE THREE SORTS OF FRIENDS

Though friends.h.i.+ps differ endless _in degree_, The _sorts_, methinks, may be reduced to three.

_Ac_quaintance many, and _Con_quaintance few; But for _In_quaintance I know only two-- The friend I've mourned with, and the maid I woo!

MY DEAR GILLMAN--The ground and _materiel_ of this division of one's friends into _ac_, _con_ and _in_quaintance, was given by Hartley Coleridge when he was scarcely five years old [1801]. On some one asking him if Anny Sealy (a little girl he went to school with) was an acquaintance of his, he replied, very fervently pressing his right hand on his heart, 'No, she is an _in_quaintance!' 'Well! 'tis a father's tale'; and the recollection soothes your old friend and _in_quaintance,

S. T. COLERIDGE.

Undated. First published in _Fraser's Magazine_ for Jan. 1835, Art.

_Coleridgeiana_, p. 54. First collected 1893.

61

If fair by Nature She honours the fair Boon with fair adorning, And graces that bespeak a gracious breeding, Can gracious Nature lessen Nature's Graces?

If taught by both she betters both and honours Fair gifts with fair adorning, know you not There is a beauty that resides within;-- A fine and delicate spirit of womanhood Of inward birth?--

Now first published from an MS.

62

BO-PEEP AND I SPY--

In the corner _one_-- I spy Love!

In the corner _None_, I spy Love.

1826. Now first published from an MS.

63

A SIMILE

As the shy hind, the soft-eyed gentle Brute Now moves, now stops, approaches by degrees-- At length emerges from the shelt'ring Trees, Lur'd by her Hunter with the Shepherd's flute, Whose music travelling on the twilight breeze, When all besides was mute-- She oft had heard, and ever lov'd to hear; She fearful Beast! but that no sound of Fear----

Undated. Now first published from an MS.

64

BARON GUELPH OF ADELSTAN. A FRAGMENT

For ever in the world of Fame We live and yet abide the same: Clouds may intercept our rays, Or desert Lands reflect our blaze.

The beauteous Month of May began, And all was Mirth and Sport, When Baron Guelph of Adelstan Took leave and left the Court.

From Fete and Rout and Opera far The full town he forsook, And changed his wand and golden star For Shepherd's Crown and Crook.

The knotted net of light and shade Beneath the budding tree, A sweeter day-bed for him made Than Couch and Canopy.

In copse or lane, as Choice or Chance Might lead him was he seen; And join'd at eve the village dance Upon the village green.

Nor endless--

Undated. Now first published from an MS.