Chronicle on the 20th, so that Coleridge must have written his Ode with expedition. The Duchess's poem was not printed as a book until 1802, and then only privately. Writing to his mother on the 6th January 1800, William Lamb (afterwards Lord Melbourne) says: I see the Passage of St. Gothard has found its way into the newspapers, and from the correctness of the text and length of the notes, I suppose by design of the author. I like it much better than I did when I saw it in MS. . . The great fault is that a poem inscribed to her children should begin with an address to Italy. She ought in justice to her children to have given them one or two stanzas more, for now they are tagged on to the tail of a poem in which they seem to have no business' (Lord Melbourne's Papers, 1889, p. 10). Coleridge reprinted the Ode in the Ann. Anthol. for 1800, and in all the editions of his Poems after that date. In his own copy of the A.A. he made some emendations with his pen. He struck out 11. 68-77, a sacrifice probably prompted by Lamb's remark, August 14, 1800 (Ainger's Letters, i. 130): By the bye, where did you pick up that scandalous piece of private history about the Angel and the Duchess of Devonshire? If it is a fiction of your own, why truly 'tis a very modest one for you.' But the scandal' was not omitted in Sib. Leaves. 152. A Christmas Carol, p. 150. First printed in Morning Post, Dec. 25, 1799; then in Ann. Anthol. 1800; and afterwards in all editions of Coleridge's poems. The Carol was probably inspired by the passage of Ottfried (p. 144). 153. Talleyrand to Lord Grenville, I have thought it better to print this political squib verbatim et literatim as it first appeared, rather than to follow any of the slight changes introduced by the editor of the reprint in Essays on his own Times (i. 233). The verses were never reprinted by Coleridge. 154. The Keepsake, p. 154. First printed in the Morning Post, Sept. 17, 1802, with the signature EΣTHZE’· then in Sib. Leaves, etc. It had been composed two years before, and, possibly, with Dorothy Wordsworth in the poet's mind, for Emmeline' was Wordsworth's poetical name for his sister. Constantly, when Wordsworth had written Dorothy' in the drafts of his verses, he altered the name to Emmeline' before sending the MS. to the printer. The M.P. version lacked the first line here; and 11. 18-21 ran thus :— In the cool morning twilight, early waked In the list, frequently mentioned in these Notes, this poem was entered as 'Forgetme-not.' 155. Lines to W. Linley, Esq., p. 155. First printed in Annual Anthology, 1800, which led to its being placed among the poems of that year. But I have since found the original manuscript, which is dated Donhead, Sept. 12, 1797.' The lines are headed by Coleridge To Mr. William Linley.' In the Ann. Anthol. the additional heading was supplied, but only with initials. The differences of text are unimportant. William Linley was the brother of the beautiful Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Sir Joshua's 'St. Cecilia.' 156. A Stranger Minstrel, p. 155. First printed in Memoirs of the late Mrs. Robinson, written by herself. With some Posthumous Pieces, 1801, iv. 141; and, again, in her Poetical Works, 1806, i. xlvii. The poem was first collected in ed. 1877-80. The verses were sent to Mrs. Robinson a few weeks before her death, which took place on Dec. 28, 1800. Mrs. Robinson was 'Perdita.' Some time before her death she retired to a cottage in the Lake country. Coleridge had known her previously in London, and their mutual admiration was pronounced. Coleridge wrote to Poole (unpublished letter of Shine like the powerless sun on polar ice; To all attach'd, by turns deserting all, Abrupt he turn'd, yet linger'd as he Cunning and dark-a necessary villain ! And wild of head to work their own destruction, Th' Adonis Tallien? banquet - hunting Tallien? Support with uproar what he plans in Him, whose heart flutters at the dice box? Him, Who ever on the harlots' downy pillow Resigns his head impure to feverish slumbers! St. Just. I cannot fear him-yet we must not scorn him. Was it not Antony that conquer'd Brutus, Th' Adonis, banquet-hunting Antony? 70 The state is not yet purified: and though The stream runs clear, yet at the bottom lies The thick black sediment of all the factions It needs no magic hand to stir it up! Couthon. O we did wrong to spare them-fatal error ! Why lived Legendre, when that Danton died? And Collot d'Herbois dangerous in crimes? I've fear'd him, since his iron heart endured To make of Lyons one vast human shambles, Compared with which the sun-scorcht wilderness Of Zara, were a smiling paradise. 80 |