The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Chapter 20 : FOOTNOTES: [47:1] First published in 1796: included in 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834

FOOTNOTES:

[47:1] First published in 1796: included in 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834. The 'four _last_ lines' of the Sonnet as sent to Southey, on Dec.

11, 1794, were written by Lamb. _Letters of S. T. C._, 1895, i. 111, 112.

[48:1] Compare ll. 13, 14 with ll. 13, 14 of _Anna and Harland_ and ll.

17, 18 of _Recollection_. _Vide_ Appendix.

LINENOTES:

t.i.tle] Irregular Sonnet MS. E: Effusion xiv. 1796: Sonnet III. 1797, 1803: Sonnet viii. 1828, 1829, 1834: The Smile P. W. 1885: The Gentle Look P. W. 1893.

[1] Thou] O Letter, 1794.

[9] gone] flown MS. E.

[10] you] one Letter, 1794.

[13-14]

Anon they haste to everlasting Night, Nor can a Giant's arm arrest them in their flight

Letter, 1794.

On on, &c.,

MS. E.

SONNET[48:2]

TO THE RIVER OTTER

Dear native Brook! wild Streamlet of the West!

How many various-fated years have past, What happy and what mournful hours, since last I skimm'd the smooth thin stone along thy breast, Numbering its light leaps! yet so deep imprest 5 Sink the sweet scenes of childhood, that mine eyes I never shut amid the sunny ray, But straight with all their tints thy waters rise, Thy crossing plank, thy marge with willows grey, And bedded sand that vein'd with various dyes 10 Gleam'd through thy bright transparence! On my way, Visions of Childhood! oft have ye beguil'd Lone manhood's cares, yet waking fondest sighs: Ah! that once more I were a careless Child!

? 1793.

FOOTNOTES:

[48:2] Lines 2-11 were first published in the _Watchman_, No. V, April 2, 1796, as lines 17-26 of _Recollection_. First published, as a whole, in _Selection of Sonnets_, 1796, included in 1797, 1803, _Sibylline Leaves_, 1828, 1829, and 1834.

LINENOTES:

t.i.tle] Sonnet No. IV. To the, &c., 1797, 1803.

[3] What blissful and what anguish'd hours Watchman, S. S., 1797, 1803.

[7] ray] blaze Watchman, S. S., 1797, 1803.

[8] thy] their S. L. _Corrected in Errata_, p. [xii].

[9]

The crossing plank, and margin's willowy maze Watchman.

Thy crossing plank, thy margin's willowy maze S. S., 1797, 1803.

[11] On my way] to the gaze Watchman, S. S., 1797, 1803.

[14] Ah! that I were once more, &c. S. L. _Corrected in Errata_, p.

[xii].

FIRST DRAFT

AN EFFUSION AT EVENING

WRITTEN IN AUGUST, 1792

Imagination, Mistress of my Love!

Where shall mine Eye thy elfin haunt explore?

Dost thou on yon rich Cloud thy pinions bright Embathe in amber-glowing Floods of Light?

Or, wild of speed, pursue the track of Day 5 In other worlds to hail the morning Ray?

'Tis time to bid the faded shadowy Pleasures move On shadowy Memory's wings across the Soul of Love; And thine o'er _Winter's_ icy plains to fling Each flower, that binds the breathing Locks of _Spring_, 10 When blus.h.i.+ng, like a bride, from primrose Bower She starts, awaken'd by the pattering Shower!

Now sheds the setting Sun a purple gleam, Aid, lovely Sorc'ress! aid the Poet's dream.

With faery wand O bid my Love arise, 15 The dewy brilliance dancing in her Eyes; As erst she woke with soul-entrancing Mien The thrill of Joy extatic yet serene, When link'd with Peace I bounded o'er the Plain And Hope itself was all I knew of Pain! 20

Propitious Fancy hears the votive sigh-- The absent Maiden flashes on mine Eye!

When first the matin Bird with startling Song Salutes the Sun his veiling Clouds among, { accustom'd I trace her footsteps on the { steaming Lawn, 25 I view her glancing in the gleams of Dawn!

When the bent Flower beneath the night-dew weeps And on the Lake the silver l.u.s.tre sleeps, Amid the paly Radiance soft and sad She meets my lonely path in moonbeams clad. 30 With _her_ along the streamlet's brink I rove; With _her_ I list the warblings of the Grove; And seems in each low wind _her_ voice to float, Lone-whispering Pity in each soothing Note!

As oft in climes beyond the western Main 35 Where boundless spreads the wildly-silent Plain, The savage Hunter, who his drowsy frame Had bask'd beneath the Sun's unclouded Flame, Awakes amid the tempest-troubled air, The Thunder's Peal and Lightning's lurid glare-- 40 Aghast he hears the rus.h.i.+ng Whirlwind's Sweep, And sad recalls the sunny hour of Sleep!

So lost by storms along Life's wild'ring Way Mine Eye reverted views that cloudless Day, When, ----! on thy banks I joy'd to rove 45 While Hope with kisses nurs'd the infant Love!

Sweet ----! where Pleasure's streamlet glides Fann'd by soft winds to curl in mimic tides; Where Mirth and Peace beguile the blameless Day; And where Friends.h.i.+p's fixt star beams a mellow'd Ray; 50 Where Love a crown of thornless Roses wears; Where soften'd Sorrow smiles within her tears; And Memory, with a Vestal's meek employ, Unceasing feeds the lambent flame of Joy!

No more thy Sky Larks less'ning from my sight 55 Shall thrill th' attuned Heartstring with delight; No more shall deck thy pensive Pleasures sweet With wreaths of sober hue my evening seat!

Yet dear to [My] Fancy's Eye thy varied scene Of Wood, Hill, Dale and sparkling Brook between: 60 Yet sweet to [My] Fancy's Ear the warbled song, That soars on Morning's wing thy fields among!

Scenes of my Hope! the aching Eye ye leave, Like those rich Hues that paint the clouds of Eve!

Tearful and saddening with the sadden'd Blaze 65 Mine Eye the gleam pursues with wistful Gaze-- Sees Shades on Shades with deeper tint impend, Till chill and damp the moonless Night descend!