Of nicely-calculated less or more; sense To live, and act, and serve the future hour; And if, as toward the silent tomb we go, Through love, through hope, and faith's transcendent dower, We feel that we are greater than we know. 10 MUTABILITY (1821) These lofty pillars, spread that branching roof Self-poised, and scooped into ten thousand cells, Where light and shade repose, where music dwells Lingering — and wandering on as loth to die; Like thoughts whose very sweetness yieldeth proof That they were born for immortality. SCORN NOT THE SONNET (1827) From low to high doth dissolution climba And sink from high to low, along a scale Of awful notes, whose concord shall not fail; A musical but melancholy chime, a Which they can hear who meddle not with crime, a 5 Nor avarice, nor over-anxious care. e Truth fails not; but her outward forms that bear e The longest date do melt like frosty rime, a That in the morning whitened hill and plain c And is no more; drop like the tower sublime a Of yesterday, which royally did wear c His crown of weeds, but could not even sustaina Some casual shout that broke the silent air, a Or the unimaginable touch of Time. a 10 INSIDE OF KING'S COLLEGE CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE (1821) Tax not the royal Saint with vain ex pense, With ill-matched aims the architect who planned Albeit laboring for a scanty band Of white-robed scholars only — this im Soul-animating strains — alas, too few!•f THE TROSACHS (1831) mense And glorious work of fine intelligence! 5 Give all thou canst; high Heaven rejects the lore There's not a nook within this solemn Pass, some 5 Feed it 'mid Nature's old felicities, than glass Thrice happy quest, If from a golden perch of aspen spray 10 (October's workmanship to rival May) The pensive warbler of the ruddy breast That moral sweeten by a heaven-taught lay, Lulling the year, with all its cares, to rest! MOST SWEET IT IS WITH UN UPLIFTED EYES (1833) Most sweet it is with unuplifted eyes To pace the ground, if path be there or none, While a fair region round the traveller lies Which he forbears again to look upon; Pleased rather with soft ideal scene, The work of Fancy, or some happy tone Of meditation, slipping in between The beauty coming and the beauty gone. If Thought and Love desert us, from that day Let us break off all commerce with the Muse: With Thought and Love companions of our way, Whate'er the senses take or may refuse, The Mind's internal heaven shall shed her dews Of inspiration on the humblest lay. 10 “THERE!” SAID A STRIPLING, POINTING WITH MEET PRIDE (1833) IF THIS GREAT WORLD OF JOY AND PAIN (1833) Revolve in one sure track; And virtue, flown, come back: The heart with each day's care; Nor gain, from past or future, skill To bear, and to forbear! 5 "There!" said a stripling, pointing with meet pride Towards a low roof with green trees half concealed, "Is Mosgiel Farm; and that's the very field Where Burns ploughed up the Daisy." Far and wide A plain below stretched seaward, while, descried Above sea-clouds, the Peaks of Arran rose; And, by that simple notice, the repose Of earth, sky, sea, and air, was vivified. Beneath “the random bield of clod or stone" Myriads of daisies have shone forth in flower Near the lark's nest, and in their natural hour Have passed away; less happy than the 5 10 NOT IN THE LUCID INTERVALS OF LIFE (1831) Not in the lucid intervals of life That come but as a curse to party-strife; Not in some hour when Pleasure with a sigh Of languor puts his rosy garland by; Not in the breathing-times of that poor slave one That, by the unwilling ploughshare, died to prove The tender charm of poetry and love. 5 BLEST STATESMAN HE, WHOSE MIND'S UNSELFISH WILL 55 Who daily piles up wealth in Mammon's cave Is Nature felt, or can be ; nor do words, Which practised talent readily affords, Prove that her hand has touched respon sive chords; Nor has her gentle beauty power to 5 Truths whose thick veil Science has drawn aside? No, - let this age, high as she may, instal In her esteem the thirst that wrought man's fall, The universe is infinitely wide; And conquering Reason, if self-glorified, Can nowhere move uncrossed by some new wall Or gulf of mystery, which thou alone, Imaginative Faith! canst overleap, In progress toward the fount of Love, the throne Of Power whose ministers the records keep Of periods fixed, and laws established, less Flesh to exalt than prove its nothingness. With genuine rapture and with fervent love The soul of Genius, if he dare to take Life's rule from passion craved for pas sion's sake; Untaught that meekness is the cherished bent Of all the truly great and all the inno cent. 10 15 20 BLEST STATESMAN HE, WHOSE MIND'S UNSELFISH WILL (1838) Blest statesman he, whose mind's unselfish will Leaves him at ease among grand thoughts: But who is innocent? By grace divine, Not otherwise, O Nature! we are thine, Through good and evil thine, in just degree Of rational and manly sympathy. To all that Earth from pensive hearts is stealing, And Heaven is now to gladdened eyes re vealing, Add every charm the Universe can show Through every change its aspects under go Care may be respited, but not repealed; No perfect cure grows on that bounded field. Vain is the pleasure, a false calm the peace, If He, through whom alone our conflicts cease, Our virtuous hopes without relapse ad vance, Come not to speed the soul's deliverance; To the distempered intellect refuse His gracious help, or give what we abuse. whose eye 25 30 Sees that, apart from magnanimity, Wisdom exists not; nor the humbled skill Of Prudence, disentangling good and ill 5 With patient care. What tho' assaults run high, They daunt not him who holds his min istry, Resolute, at all hazards, to fulfil Its duties; prompt to move, but firm to wait, Knowing, things rashly sought are rarely found; That, for the functions of an ancient State Strong by her charters, free because im bound, Servant of Providence, not slave of Fate Perilous is sweeping change, all chance unsound. 10 DESIRE WE PAST ILLUSIONS TO RECALL? (1833) Desire we past illusions to recall? PROTEST AGAINST THE BALLOT (1838) SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER (1797-98) IN SEVEN PARTS 5 Part I Forth rushed from Envy sprung and Self conceit, A Power misnamed the Spirit of Reform, And through the astonished Island swept in storm, Threatening to lay all orders at her feet That crossed her way. Now stoops she to entreat License to hide at intervals her head Where she may work, safe, undisquieted, In a close box, covert for Justice meet. St. George of England! keep a watchful eye Fixed on the suitor; frustrate her request 10 Stifle her hope; for, if the State comply, From such Pandorian gift may come a pest Worse than the dragon that bowed low his crest, Pierced by thy spear in glorious victory. 5 It is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three. "By thy long grey beard and glittering eye, Now wherefore stopp'st thou me? “The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide, And I am next to kin; The guests are met, the feast is set: May'st hear the merry din.” He holds him with his skinny hand, “There was a ship,” quoth he. "Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!" Eftsoons his hand dropt he. He holds him with his glittering eye — The Wedding-Guest stood still, And listens like a three years' child: The Mariner hath his will. 10 WHO PONDERS NATIONAL EVENTS SHALL FIND (c. 1842) 15 20 5 or Who ponders national events shall find bined, And proud deliverance issuing out of pain And direful throes; as if the All-ruling Mind, dain hand To social havoc. Is not Conscience ours, And Truth, whose eye guilt only can make dim; And Will, whose office, by divine com mand, Is to control and check disordered powers? The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone: 25 10 30 35 “In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud, 75 It perched for vespers nine; Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white, Glimmered the white Moon-shine.” "God save thee, ancient Mariner! From the fiends, that plague thee thus! Why look'st thou so ?” — "With my cross bow I shot the Albatross !” 40 80 Part II The bride hath paced into the hall, 50 “The fair breeze blew, the white foam few, The furrow followed free: We were the first that ever burst 105 Into that silent sea. 70 “And a good south wind sprung up behind; |