The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Chapter 9 : Scarce had I lov'd you ere I mourn'd you lost; Say, is this hollow eye, this h

Scarce had I lov'd you ere I mourn'd you lost; Say, is this hollow eye, this heartless pain, Fated to rove thro' Life's wide cheerless plain-- 10 Nor father, brother, sister meet its ken-- My woes, my joys unshared! Ah! long ere then On me thy icy dart, stern Death, be prov'd;-- Better to die, than live and not be lov'd!

1791.

FOOTNOTES:

[20:1] First published in 1834. The 'brother' (line 1) was Luke Herman Coleridge who died at Thorverton in 1790. Anne Coleridge, the poet's sister (the only daughter of his father's second marriage), died in March 1791.

LINENOTES:

t.i.tle] Sonnet v. MS. O.

[1] tear] tears MS. O.

[4] O my sweet sister must _thou_ die MS. O.

[7] gone] flown MS. O.

[10] Fated] Destin'd MS. O.

[11] father] Mother MS. O.

ON SEEING A YOUTH AFFECTIONATELY WELCOMED BY A SISTER[21:1]

I too a sister had! too cruel Death!

How sad Remembrance bids my bosom heave!

Tranquil her soul, as sleeping Infant's breath; Meek were her manners as a vernal Eve.

Knowledge, that frequent lifts the bloated mind, 5 Gave her the treasure of a lowly breast, And Wit to venom'd Malice oft a.s.sign'd, Dwelt in her bosom in a Turtle's nest.

Cease, busy Memory! cease to urge the dart; Nor on my soul her love to me impress! 10 For oh I mourn in anguish--and my heart Feels the keen pang, th' unutterable distress.

Yet wherefore grieve I that her sorrows cease, For Life was misery, and the Grave is Peace!

1791.

FOOTNOTES:

[21:1] First published in 1834.

A MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM[21:2]

If Pegasus will let _thee_ only ride him, Spurning my clumsy efforts to o'erstride him, Some fresh expedient the Muse will try, And walk on stilts, although she cannot fly.

TO THE REV. GEORGE COLERIDGE

DEAR BROTHER,

I have often been surprised that Mathematics, the quintessence of Truth, should have found admirers so few and so languid.

Frequent consideration and minute scrutiny have at length unravelled the cause; viz. that though Reason is feasted, Imagination is starved; whilst Reason is luxuriating in its proper Paradise, Imagination is wearily travelling on a dreary desert. To a.s.sist Reason by the stimulus of Imagination is the design of the following production. In the execution of it much may be objectionable. The verse (particularly in the introduction of the ode) may be accused of unwarrantable liberties, but they are liberties equally h.o.m.ogeneal with the exactness of Mathematical disquisition, and the boldness of Pindaric daring. I have three strong champions to defend me against the attacks of Criticism: the Novelty, the Difficulty, and the Utility of the work. I may justly plume myself that I first have drawn the nymph Mathesis from the visionary caves of abstracted idea, and caused her to unite with Harmony. The first-born of this Union I now present to you; with interested motives indeed--as I expect to receive in return the more valuable offspring of your Muse.

Thine ever, S. T. C.

[CHRIST'S HOSPITAL], _March 31, 1791_.

This is now--this was erst, Proposition the first--and Problem the first.

I

On a given finite line Which must no way incline; To describe an equi-- --lateral Tri-- --A, N, G, L, E.[22:1] 5 Now let A. B.

Be the given line Which must no way incline; The great Mathematician Makes this Requisition, 10 That we describe an Equi-- --lateral Tri-- --angle on it: Aid us, Reason--aid us, Wit!

II

From the centre A. at the distance A. B. 15 Describe the circle B. C. D.

At the distance B. A. from B. the centre The round A. C. E. to describe boldly venture.[22:2]

(Third postulate see.) And from the point C. 20 In which the circles make a pother Cutting and slas.h.i.+ng one another, Bid the straight lines a journeying go.

C. A. C. B. those lines will show.

To the points, which by A. B. are reckon'd, 25 And postulate the second For Authority ye know.

A. B. C.

Triumphant shall be An Equilateral Triangle, 30 Not Peter Pindar carp, nor Zoilus can wrangle.

III

Because the point A. is the centre Of the circular B. C. D.

And because the point B. is the centre Of the circular A. C. E. 35 A. C. to A. B. and B. C. to B. A.

Harmoniously equal for ever must stay; Then C. A. and B. C.

Both extend the kind hand To the basis, A. B. 40 Unambitiously join'd in Equality's Band.

But to the same powers, when two powers are equal, My mind forbodes the sequel; My mind does some celestial impulse teach, And equalises each to each. 45 Thus C. A. with B. C. strikes the same sure alliance, That C. A. and B. C. had with A. B. before; And in mutual affiance None attempting to soar Above another, 50 The unanimous three C. A. and B. C. and A. B.

All are equal, each to his brother, Preserving the balance of power so true: Ah! the like would the proud Autocratrix[23:1] do! 55 At taxes impending not Britain would tremble, Nor Prussia struggle her fear to dissemble; Nor the Mah'met-sprung Wight The great Mussulman Would stain his Divan 60 With Urine the soft-flowing daughter of Fright.

IV

But rein your stallion in, too daring Nine!

Should Empires bloat the scientific line?

Or with dishevell'd hair all madly do ye run For transport that your task is done? 65 For done it is--the cause is tried!

And Proposition, gentle Maid, Who soothly ask'd stern Demonstration's aid, Has proved her right, and A. B. C.

Of Angles three 70 Is shown to be of equal side; And now our weary steed to rest in fine, 'Tis rais'd upon A. B. the straight, the given line.

1791.