The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume I Part 10

FOOTNOTES:

[21:2] First published in 1834 without a t.i.tle, but tabulated as 'Mathematical Problem' in 'Contents' 1 [p. xi].

[22:1] _Poetice_ for Angle. _Letter, 1791._

[22:2] Delendus 'fere'. _Letter, 1791._

[23:1] Empress of Russia.

LINENOTES:

t.i.tle] Prospectus and Specimen of a Translation of Euclid in a series of Pindaric Odes, communicated in a letter of the author to his Brother Rev. G. Coleridge [March 17, 1791]. MS. O (c).

[5] A E N G E E E L E. Letter, 1791.

[36] A C to C B and C B to C A. Letter, 1791, MS. O (c).

[48] affiance] alliance Letter, 1791.

[55] Autocratrix] Autocratorix MS. O (c).

HONOUR[24:1]

O, curas hominum! O, quantum est in rebus inane!

The fervid Sun had more than halv'd the day, When gloomy on his couch Philedon lay; His feeble frame consumptive as his purse, His aching head did wine and women curse; His fortune ruin'd and his wealth decay'd, 5 Clamorous his duns, his gaming debts unpaid, The youth indignant seiz'd his tailor's bill, And on its back thus wrote with moral quill: 'Various as colours in the rainbow shown, Or similar in emptiness alone, 10 How false, how vain are Man's pursuits below!

Wealth, Honour, Pleasure--what can ye bestow?

Yet see, how high and low, and young and old Pursue the all-delusive power of Gold.

Fond man! should all Peru thy empire own, 15 For thee tho' all Golconda's jewels shone, What greater bliss could all this wealth supply?

What, but to eat and drink and sleep and die?

Go, tempt the stormy sea, the burning soil-- Go, waste the night in thought, the day in toil, 20 Dark frowns the rock, and fierce the tempests rave-- Thy ingots go the unconscious deep to pave!

Or thunder at thy door the midnight train, Or Death shall knock that never knocks in vain.

Next Honour's sons come bustling on amain; 25 I laugh with pity at the idle train.

Infirm of soul! who think'st to lift thy name Upon the waxen wings of human fame,-- Who for a sound, articulated breath-- Gazest undaunted in the face of death! 30 What art thou but a Meteor's glaring light-- Blazing a moment and then sunk in night?

Caprice which rais'd thee high shall hurl thee low, Or Envy blast the laurels on thy brow.

To such poor joys could ancient Honour lead 35 When empty fame was toiling Merit's meed; To Modern Honour other lays belong; Profuse of joy and Lord of right and wrong, Honour can game, drink, riot in the stew, Cut a friend's throat;--what cannot Honour do? 40 Ah me!--the storm within can Honour still For Julio's death, whom Honour made me kill?

Or will this lordly Honour tell the way To pay those debts, which Honour makes me pay?

Or if with pistol and terrific threats 45 I make some traveller pay my Honour's debts, A medicine for this wound can Honour give?

Ah, no! my Honour dies to make my Honour live.

But see! young Pleasure, and her train advance, And joy and laughter wake the inebriate dance; 50 Around my neck she throws her fair white arms, I meet her loves, and madden at her charms.

For the gay grape can joys celestial move, And what so sweet below as Woman's love?

With such high transport every moment flies, 55 I curse Experience that he makes me wise; For at his frown the dear deliriums flew, And the changed scene now wears a gloomy hue.

A hideous hag th' Enchantress Pleasure seems, And all her joys appear but feverous dreams. 60 The vain resolve still broken and still made, Disease and loathing and remorse invade; The charm is vanish'd and the bubble's broke,-- A slave to pleasure is a slave to smoke!'

Such lays repentant did the Muse supply; 65 When as the Sun was hastening down the sky, In glittering state twice fifty guineas come,-- His Mother's plate antique had rais'd the sum.

Forth leap'd Philedon of new life possest:-- 69 'Twas Brookes's all till two,--'twas Hackett's all the rest!

1791.

FOOTNOTES:

[24:1] First published in 1834: included in _P. and D. W._, 1877-80, and in 1893.

LINENOTES:

_Honour_] No t.i.tle, but motto as above MS. O.: Philedon, Eds. 1877, 1893.

[34] Or] And MS. O.

[43-4]

Or will my Honour kindly tell the way To pay the debts

MS. O.

[60] feverous] feverish MS. O.

[70] Brookes's, a famous gaming-house in Fleet Street. Hackett's, a brothel under the Covent Garden Piazza. Note MS. O.

ON IMITATION[26:1]

All are not born to soar--and ah! how few In tracks where Wisdom leads their paths pursue!

Contagious when to wit or wealth allied, Folly and Vice diffuse their venom wide.

On Folly every fool his talent tries; 5 It asks some toil to imitate the wise; Tho' few like Fox can speak--like Pitt can think-- Yet all like Fox can game--like Pitt can drink.

? 1791

FOOTNOTES:

[26:1] First published in 1834. In _MS. O_ lines 3, 4 follow lines 7, 8 of the text.

INSIDE THE COACH[26:2]

'Tis hard on Bagshot Heath to try Unclos'd to keep the weary eye; But ah! Oblivion's nod to get In rattling coach is harder yet.