The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Chapter 18 : Or where his waves with loud unquiet song Dash'd o'er the rocky channel froth

Or where his waves with loud unquiet song Dash'd o'er the rocky channel froth along

MS. 4{o}, 1796 ('froths' _in text_, 'froth' _errata_).

[70] froths] froth 1828, 1829.

[75-7]

Mother of wild'ring dreams thy course pursue.

With downcast eyes around thee stand The sombre Hours, a duteous band.

MS. E.

[92] obedience MS. 4{o}, 1796: Correction made in Errata.

[94] For lo! around thy MS. E.

[97] softer] gentler MS. E.

[99] meek-eyed] meekest MS. E.

[100] cheeks are] cheek is MS. E.

[104-5]

Yet ere again the impurpled vale And elfin-haunted grove

MS. 4{o}.

[104-6]

Yet ere again the purpling vale And elfin-haunted Grove Young Zephyr with fresh flowrets strews.

MS. 4{o}, MS. E.

[108] nectar-breathing] nectar-dropping MS. E.

[109] for] of MS. E.

THE ROSE[45:1]

As late each flower that sweetest blows I pluck'd, the Garden's pride!

Within the petals of a Rose A sleeping Love I spied.

Around his brows a beamy wreath 5 Of many a lucent hue; All purple glow'd his cheek, beneath, Inebriate with dew.

I softly seiz'd the unguarded Power, Nor scared his balmy rest: 10 And placed him, caged within the flower, On spotless Sara's breast.

But when unweeting of the guile Awoke the prisoner sweet, He struggled to escape awhile 15 And stamp'd his faery feet.

Ah! soon the soul-entrancing sight Subdued the impatient boy!

He gazed! he thrill'd with deep delight!

Then clapp'd his wings for joy. 20

'And O!' he cried--'Of magic kind What charms this Throne endear!

Some other Love let Venus find-- I'll fix _my_ empire _here_.'[46:1]

1793.

FOOTNOTES:

[45:1] First published in 1796, included in 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834. A copy of this poem is written in pencil on the blank page of Langhorne's _Collins_; a note adds, 'This "Effusion" and "Kisses" were addressed to a Miss F. Nesbitt at Plymouth, whither the author accompanied his eldest brother, to whom he was paying a visit, when he was twenty-one years of age.' In a letter to his brother George, dated July 28, 1793, Coleridge writes, 'presented a moss rose to a lady. d.i.c.k Hart [George Coleridge's brother-in-law] asked if she was not afraid to put it in her bosom, as, perhaps, there might be love in it. I immediately wrote the following little ode or song or what you please to call it. [The Rose.] It is of the namby-pamby genus.' _Letters of S. T.

C._, 1895, i. 54.

[46:1] _Letters of S. T. C._, 1895, i. p. 55.

LINENOTES:

t.i.tle] On presenting a moss rose to Miss F. Nesbitt. MS. (pencil).

Effusion xxvi. 1796.

[5] beamy] lucent MS. E: lucid Letter, 1793.

[6] lucent] changing MS. E: mingled Letter, 1793.

[12]

On lovely Nesbitt's breast. MS. (pencil).

On Angelina's breast. Letter, 1793.

On spotless Anna's breast. MS. E.

[Probably Anna Bucle, afterwards Mrs. Cruikshank.]

[13] But when all reckless Letter, 1793.

[14] prisoner] slumberer Letter, 1793.

[16] faery] angry Letter, 1793.

[21-2]

'And, O', he cried, 'What charms refined This magic throne endear