The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume I Part 135

We pledged our hearts, my love and I,-- I in my arms the maiden clasping; I could not guess the reason why, But, oh! I trembled like an aspen.

Her father's love she bade me gain; 5 I went, but shook like any reed!

I strove to act the man--in vain!

We had exchanged our hearts indeed.

1804.

FOOTNOTES:

[391:1] First published in the _Courier_, April 16, 1804: included in the _Poetical Register_ for 1804 (1805); reprinted in _Literary Souvenir_ for 1826, p. 408, and in _Literary Remains_, 1836, i. 59.

First collected in 1844.

LINENOTES:

t.i.tle] The Exchange of Hearts Courier, 1804.

[2] Me in her arms Courier, 1804.

[3] guess] tell Lit. Souvenir, Lit. Rem., 1844.

[5] Her father's leave Courier, 1804, P. R. 1804, 1893.

[6] but] and Lit. Souvenir, Lit. Rem., 1844.

AD VILMUM AXIOLOGUM[391:2]

[TO WILLIAM WORDSWORTH]

This be the meed, that thy song creates a thousand-fold echo!

Sweet as the warble of woods, that awakes at the gale of the morning!

List! the Hearts of the Pure, like caves in the ancient mountains Deep, deep _in_ the Bosom, and _from_ the Bosom resound it, Each with a different tone, complete or in musical fragments-- 5 All have welcomed thy Voice, and receive and retain and prolong it!

This is the word of the Lord! it is spoken, and Beings Eternal Live and are borne as an Infant; the Eternal begets the Immortal: Love is the Spirit of Life, and Music the Life of the Spirit!

? 1805.

FOOTNOTES:

[391:2] First published in _P. W._, 1893. These lines were found in one of Coleridge's Notebooks (No. 24). The first draft immediately follows the transcription of a series of Dante's _Canzoni_ begun at Malta in 1805. If the Hexameters were composed at the same time, it is possible that they were inspired by a perusal or re-perusal of a MS. copy of Wordsworth's unpublished poems which had been made for his use whilst he was abroad. As Mr. Campbell points out (_P. W._, p. 614), Wordsworth himself was responsible for the Latinization of his name. A _Sonnet on seeing Miss Helen Maria Williams weeping at a tale of distress_, which was published in the _European Magazine_ for March, 1787, is signed 'Axiologus'.

LINENOTES:

[1 foll.]

What is the meed of thy song? 'Tis the ceaseless the thousandfold echo, Which from the welcoming Hearts of the Pure repeats and prolongs it-- Each with a different Tone, compleat or in musical fragments.

Or

This be the meed, that thy Song awakes to a thousandfold echo Welcoming Hearts; is it their voice or is it thy own?

Lost! the Hearts of the Pure, like caves in the ancient mountains Deep, deep in the bosom, and _from_ the bosom resound it, Each with a different tone, compleat or in musical fragments.

Meet the song they receive, and retain and resound and prolong it!

Welcoming Souls! is it their voice, sweet Poet, or is it thy own voice?

Drafts in Notebook.

AN EXILE[392:1]

Friend, Lover, Husband, Sister, Brother!

Dear names close in upon each other!

Alas! poor Fancy's bitter-sweet-- Our names, and but our names can meet.

1805.

FOOTNOTES:

[392:1] First published, with t.i.tle 'An Exile', in 1893. These lines, without t.i.tle or heading, are inserted in one of Coleridge's Malta Notebooks.

SONNET[392:2]

[TRANSLATED FROM MARINI]

Lady, to Death we're doom'd, our crime the same!

Thou, that in me thou kindled'st such fierce heat; I, that my heart did of a Sun so sweet The rays concentre to so hot a flame.

I, fascinated by an Adder's eye-- 5 Deaf as an Adder thou to all my pain; Thou obstinate in Scorn, in Pa.s.sion I-- I lov'd too much, too much didst thou disdain.

Hear then our doom in h.e.l.l as just as stern, Our sentence equal as our crimes conspire-- 10 Who living bask'd at Beauty's earthly fire, In living flames eternal these must burn-- h.e.l.l for us both fit places too supplies-- In my heart _thou_ wilt burn, I _roast_ before thine eyes.

? 1805.

FOOTNOTES:

[392:2] First published in 1893. For the Italian original, 'Alia Sua Amico,' _Sonetto_, vide Appendices of this Edition.