Volume 2 / Part 2 / Act 4 — FRAGMENTS FROM A NOTEBOOK[988:1]
Reading edition
FRAGMENTS FROM A NOTEBOOK[988:1]
Circa 1796-98
1
Light cargoes waft of modulated Sound From viewless Hybla brought, when Melodies Like Birds of Paradise on wings, that aye Disport in wild variety of hues, Murmur around the honey-dropping flower.
First published in 1893. Compare The Eolian Harp (Aug. 1795), lines 20-5 (ante p. 101).
2
Broad-breasted rock—hanging cliff that glasses His rugged forehead in the calmy sea.[988:2]
First published in 1893. Compare Destiny of Nations (1796), lines 342, 343 (ante p. 143).
3
Where Cam his stealthy flowings most dissembles And scarce the Willow's watery shadow trembles.
First published in 1893. Compare line 1 of A Fragment Found in a Lecture-Room, 'Where deep in mud Cam rolls his slumbrous stream' (ante, p. 35).
4
With secret hand heal the conjectur'd wound, [or] Guess at the wound, and heal with secret hand.
First published in 1893. The alternative line was first published in Lit. Rem., i. 279.
5
Outmalic'd Calumny's imposthum'd Tongue.
First published in 1893. A line from Verses to Horne Tooke, July 4, 1796, line 20 (ante, p. 151).
6
And write Impromptus Spurring their Pegasus to tortoise gallop.
First published in 1893.
7
Due to the Staggerers, that made drunk by Power Forget thirst's eager promise, and presume, Dark Dreamers! that the world forgets it too.
First published in Lit. Rem., 1836, i. 27.
LINENOTES:
[1]
Due] These L. R.
8
Perish warmth Unfaithful to its seeming!
First published in Lit. Rem., i. 279.
9
Old age, 'the shape and messenger of Death,' 'His wither'd Fist still knocking at Death's door.'
First published in Lit. Rem., i. 279. Quoted from Sackville's Induction to a Mirrour for Magistrates, stanza 48:
'His wither'd fist stil knocking at deathes dore, Tumbling and driveling as he drawes his breth; For briefe, the shape and messenger of death.'
10
God no distance knows, All of the whole possessing!
First published in Lit. Rem., i. 279. Compare Religious Musings, ll. 156-7.
11
Wherefore art thou come? doth not the Creator of all things know all things? And if thou art come to seek him, know that where thou wast, there he was.
First published in 1893. Compare the Wanderings of Cain.
12
And cauldrons the scoop'd earth, a boiling sea.
First published in 1893.
13
Rush on my ear, a cataract of sound.
First published in 1893.
14
The guilty pomp, consuming while it flares.
First published in 1893.
15
My heart seraglios a whole host of Joys.
First published in 1893.
16
And Pity's sigh shall answer thy tale of Anguish Like the faint echo of a distant valley.
First published in Notizbuch, 1896, p. 350.
17
A DUNGEON
In darkness I remain'd—the neighb'ring clock Told me that now the rising sun shone lovely On my garden.
First published in Lit. Rem., i. 279. Compare Osorio, Act I, lines 219-21 (ante, p. 528), and Remorse, Act I, Scene ii, lines 218-20 (ante, p. 830).
LINENOTES:
[2]
sun at dawn L. R.
18
The Sun (for now his orb 'gan slowly sink) Shot half his rays aslant the heath whose flowers Purpled the mountain's broad and level top; Rich was his bed of clouds, and wide beneath Expecting Ocean smiled with dimpled face.
First published in Lit. Rem., i. 278. Compare This Lime-Tree Bower (1797), lines 32-7 (ante, pp. 179, 180).
19
Leanness, disquietude, and secret Pangs.
First published in Notizbuch, p. 351.
20
Smooth, shining, and deceitful as thin Ice.
First published in Notizbuch, p. 355.
21
Wisdom, Mother of retired Thought.
First published in 1893.
22
Nature wrote Rascal on his face, By chalcographic art!
First published in 1893.
23
In this world we dwell among the tombs And touch the pollutions of the Dead.
First published in 1893. Compare Destiny of Nations, ll. 177-8 (ante, p. 137).
24
The mild despairing of a Heart resigned.
First published in Lit. Rem., i. 278.
25
Such fierce vivacity as fires the eye Of Genius fancy-craz'd.
First published in Lit. Rem., i. 278. Compare Destiny of Nations, ll. 257, 258 (ante, p. 139).
26
——like a mighty Giantess Seiz'd in sore travail and prodigious birth Sick Nature struggled: long and strange her pangs; Her groans were horrible, but O! most fair The Twins she bore—Equality and Peace!
First published in Lit. Rem., i. 278. Compare concluding lines of the second strophe of Ode to the Departing Year, 4o, 1796.
27
Discontent Mild as an infant low-plaining in its sleep.
First published in 1893.
28
——terrible and loud, As the strong Voice that from the Thunder-cloud Speaks to the startled Midnight.
First published in Lit. Rem., i. 278.
29
The swallows Interweaving there, mid the pair'd sea-mews At distance wildly-wailing!
First published in 1893.
30
The Brook runs over sea-weeds. Sabbath day—from the Miller's merry wheel The water-drops dripp'd leisurely.
First published in 1893. It is possible the Fragments were some of the 'studies' for The Brook. See Biog. Lit., Cap. X, ed. 1907, i. 129.
31
On the broad mountain-top The neighing wild-colt races with the wind O'er fern and heath-flowers.
First published in Lit. Rem., i. 278.
32
A long deep lane So overshadow'd, it might seem one bower— The damp clay-banks were furr'd with mouldy moss.
First published in 1893.
33
Broad-breasted Pollards, with broad-branching heads.
First published in 1893.
34
'Twas sweet to know it only possible— Some wishes cross'd my mind and dimly cheer'd it— And one or two poor melancholy Pleasures— In these, the pale unwarming light of Hope Silv'ring their flimsy wing, flew silent by, Moths in the Moonlight.
First published in Lit. Rem., i. 277, 278.
LINENOTES:
[4]
In these] Each in L. R.
[5]
their] its L. R.
35
Behind the thin Grey cloud that cover'd but not hid the sky The round full moon look'd small.
First published in Lit. Rem., i. 277. Compare Christabel, ll. 16, 17 (ante, p. 216).
36
The subtle snow In every breeze rose curling from the Grove Like pillars of cottage smoke.
First published in Lit. Rem., i. 278.
LINENOTES:
The Subtle snow in every passing breeze Rose curling from the grove like shafts of smoke.
L. R.
37
The sunshine lies on the cottage-wall, A-shining thro' the snow.
First published in 1893.
38
A maniac in the woods—She crosses heedlessly the woodman's path—scourg'd by rebounding boughs.
First published in 1893.
Compare this with discarded stanza in 'Introduction to the Tale of the Dark Ladié' as printed in the Morning Post, Dec. 21, 1799 (vide ante, p. 333).
And how he cross'd the woodman's paths, Thro' briars and swampy mosses beat; How boughs rebounding scourg'd his limbs, And low stubs gor'd his feet.
Note by J. D. Campbell, P. W., 1893, p. 456.
39
HYMNS—MOON
In a cave in the mountains of Cashmeer, an image of ice, which makes its appearance thus: Two days before the new moon there appears a bubble of ice, which increases in size every day till the fifteenth day, at which it is an ell or more in height;—then, as the moon decreases the Image does also till it vanishes. Mem. Read the whole 107th page of Maurice's Indostan.
First published in 1893. 'Hymns to the Sun, the Moon, and the Elements' are included in a list of projected works enumerated in the Gutch Notebook. The 'caves of ice' in Kubla Khan may have been a reminiscence of the 107th page of Maurice's Hindostan.
40
The tongue can't speak when the mouth is cramm'd with earth— A little mould fills up most eloquent mouths, And a square stone with a few pious texts Cut neatly on it, keeps the mould down tight.
First published in 1893. Compare Osorio, Act III, lines 259-62 (ante, p. 560).
41
And with my whole heart sing the stately song, Loving the God that made me.
First published in 1893. Compare Fears in Solitude, ll. 196-7 (ante, p. 263).
42
God's Image, Sister of the Cherubim!
First published in 1893. Compare the last line of The Ode to the Departing Year (ante, p. 168).
43
And re-implace God's Image in the Soul.
First published in 1893.
44
And arrows steeled with wrath.
First published in 1893.
45
Lov'd the same Love, and hated the same hate, Breath'd in his soul! etc. etc.
First published in 1893.
46
O man! thou half-dead Angel!
First published in 1893.
47
Thy stern and sullen eye, and thy dark brow Chill me, like dew-damps of th' unwholesome Night. My Love, a timorous and tender flower, Closes beneath thy Touch, unkindly man! Breath'd on by gentle gales of Courtesy And cheer'd by sunshine of impassion'd look— Then opes its petals of no vulgar hues.
First published in 1893. See Remorse, Act I, Sc. ii, ll. 81-4 (ante, p. 826). Compare Osorio, Act. I, ll. 80-3 (ante, p. 522).
48
With skill that never Alchemist yet told, Made drossy Lead as ductile as pure Gold.
First published in 1893.
49
Grant me a Patron, gracious Heaven! whene'er My unwash'd follies call for Penance drear: But when more hideous guilt this heart infests Instead of fiery coals upon my Pate, O let a titled Patron be my Fate;— That fierce Compendium of Ægyptian Pests! Right reverend Dean, right honourable Squire, Lord, Marquis, Earl, Duke, Prince,—or if aught higher, However proudly nicknamed, he shall be Anathema Maránatha to me!
First published, Lit. Rem., i. 281.