SONGS OF THE PIXIES[40:1]
Reading edition
SONGS OF THE PIXIES[40:1]
The Pixies, in the superstition of Devonshire, are a race of beings invisibly small, and harmless or friendly to man. At a small distance from a village in that county, half-way up a wood-covered hill, is an excavation called the Pixies' Parlour. The roots of old trees form its ceiling; and on its sides are innumerable cyphers, among which the author discovered his own cypher and those of his brothers, cut by the hand of their childhood. At the foot of the hill flows the river Otter.
To this place the Author, during the summer months of the year 1793, conducted a party of young ladies; one of whom, of stature elegantly small, and of complexion colourless yet clear, was proclaimed the Faery Queen. On which occasion the following Irregular Ode was written.
I Whom the untaught Shepherds call Pixies in their madrigal, Fancy's children, here we dwell: Welcome, Ladies! to our cell. Here the wren of softest note 5 Builds its nest and warbles well; Here the blackbird strains his throat; Welcome, Ladies! to our cell. [41]II When fades the moon to shadowy-pale, And scuds the cloud before the gale, 10 Ere the Morn all gem-bedight Hath streak'd the East with rosy light, We sip the furze-flower's fragrant dews Clad in robes of rainbow hues; Or sport amid the shooting gleams 15 To the tune of distant-tinkling teams, While lusty Labour scouting sorrow Bids the Dame a glad good-morrow, Who jogs the accustom'd road along, And paces cheery to her cheering song. 20 III But not our filmy pinion We scorch amid the blaze of day, When Noontide's fiery-tresséd minion Flashes the fervid ray. Aye from the sultry heat 25 We to the cave retreat O'ercanopied by huge roots intertwin'd With wildest texture, blacken'd o'er with age: Round them their mantle green the ivies bind, Beneath whose foliage pale 30 Fann'd by the unfrequent gale We shield us from the Tyrant's mid-day rage. [42]IV Thither, while the murmuring throng Of wild-bees hum their drowsy song, By Indolence and Fancy brought, 35 A youthful Bard, 'unknown to Fame,' Wooes the Queen of Solemn Thought, And heaves the gentle misery of a sigh Gazing with tearful eye, As round our sandy grot appear 40 Many a rudely-sculptur'd name To pensive Memory dear! Weaving gay dreams of sunny-tinctur'd hue, We glance before his view: O'er his hush'd soul our soothing witcheries shed 45 And twine the future garland round his head. V When Evening's dusky car Crown'd with her dewy star Steals o'er the fading sky in shadowy flight; On leaves of aspen trees 50 We tremble to the breeze Veil'd from the grosser ken of mortal sight. Or, haply, at the visionary hour, Along our wildly-bower'd sequester'd walk, We listen to the enamour'd rustic's talk; 55 Heave with the heavings of the maiden's breast, Where young-eyed Loves have hid their turtle nest; Or guide of soul-subduing power The glance that from the half-confessing eye Darts the fond question or the soft reply. 60 [43]VI Or through the mystic ringlets of the vale We flash our faery feet in gamesome prank; Or, silent-sandal'd, pay our defter court, Circling the Spirit of the Western Gale, Where wearied with his flower-caressing sport, 65 Supine he slumbers on a violet bank; Then with quaint music hymn the parting gleam By lonely Otter's sleep-persuading stream; Or where his wave with loud unquiet song Dash'd o'er the rocky channel froths along; 70 Or where, his silver waters smooth'd to rest, The tall tree's shadow sleeps upon his breast. VII Hence thou lingerer, Light! Eve saddens into Night. Mother of wildly-working dreams! we view 75 The sombre hours, that round thee stand With down-cast eyes (a duteous band!) Their dark robes dripping with the heavy dew. Sorceress of the ebon throne! Thy power the Pixies own, 80 When round thy raven brow Heaven's lucent roses glow, [44]And clouds in watery colours drest Float in light drapery o'er thy sable vest: What time the pale moon sheds a softer day 85 Mellowing the woods beneath its pensive beam: For mid the quivering light 'tis ours to play, Aye dancing to the cadence of the stream. VIII Welcome, Ladies! to the cell Where the blameless Pixies dwell: 90 But thou, Sweet Nymph! proclaim'd our Faery Queen, With what obeisance meet Thy presence shall we greet? For lo! attendant on thy steps are seen Graceful Ease in artless stole, 95 And white-robed Purity of soul, With Honour's softer mien; Mirth of the loosely-flowing hair, And meek-eyed Pity eloquently fair, Whose tearful cheeks are lovely to the view, 100 As snow-drop wet with dew. IX Unboastful Maid! though now the Lily pale Transparent grace thy beauties meek; Yet ere again along the impurpling vale, The purpling vale and elfin-haunted grove, 105 Young Zephyr his fresh flowers profusely throws, We'll tinge with livelier hues thy cheek; And, haply, from the nectar-breathing Rose Extract a Blush for Love!
1793.
FOOTNOTES:
LINENOTES:
This preface appears in all editions. Previous to 1834 the second paragraph read:—To this place the Author conducted a party of young Ladies, during the Summer months of the year 1793, &c.
The Songs of the Pixies, an irregular Ode. The lower orders of the people in Devonshire have a superstition concerning the existence of 'Pixies', a race of beings supposed to be invisibly small, and harmless or friendly to man. At a small village in the county, half-way up a Hill, is a large excavation called the 'Pixies'' Parlour. The roots of the trees growing above it form the ceiling—and on its sides are engraved innumerable cyphers, among which the author descried his own and those of his Brothers, cut by the rude hand of their childhood. At the foot of the Hill flows the River Otter. To this place the Author had the Honour of conducting a party of Young Ladies during the Summer months, on which occasion the following Poem was written. MS. E.
Note. The emendations in ll. 9, 11, 12, 15, 16 are peculiar to the edition of 1834, and are, certainly, Coleridge's own handiwork.
[
9
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to] all MS. 4o, MS. E, 1796, 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829.
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11
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Ere Morn with living gems bedight MS. 4o, MS. E, 1796, 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829.
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Hath streak'd] Purples MS. 4o, MS. E, 1796, 1828, 1829: Streaks 1797, 1803. rosy] streaky MS. E, 1796, 1828, 1829: purple 1797, 1803.
After l. 14 the following lines appear in MS. 4o, MS. E, 1796, 1797, 1803, 1828:
Richer than the deepen'd bloom That glows on Summer's lily-scented (scented 1797, 1803) plume.
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shooting] rosy MS. 4o, MS. E, 1796, 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829.
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gleam . . . team MS. 4o, MS. E, 1796, 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829.
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To the tune of] Sooth'd by the MS. 4o, MS. E, 1796, 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829.
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Timing to Dobbin's foot her cheery song. MS. E, MS. 4o erased.
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our] the MS. E.
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By rapture-beaming Fancy brought MS. E, MS. 4o erased.
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Oft wooes MS. E: our faery garlands MS. 4o, MS. E, 1796, 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829.
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Or at the silent visionary hour Along our rude sequester'd walk We list th' enamour'd Shepherd's talk.
MS. E.
Or at the silent
MS. 4o erased.
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wildly-bower'd] wild 1797, 1803.
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hid] built MS. 4o, MS. E, 1796, 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829.
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of] with MS. E.
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The Electric Flash that from the melting eye,
MS. 4o, MS. E, 1796, 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829.
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or] and MS. E, 1796, 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829.
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Or haply in the flower-embroider'd vale We ply our faery feet in gamesome prank; Or pay our wonted court Circling the Spirits of the Western Gale, Where tir'd with vernal sport
MS. E.
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Or in deft homage pay our silent court
MS. 4o erased.
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By lonely Otter's 'peace-persuading' stream Or where his frothing wave with merry song 'Dash'd o'er the rough rock lightly leaps along'
MS. E.
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peace-persuading stream MS. 4o erased.
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Or where his waves with loud unquiet song Dash'd o'er the rocky channel froth along
MS. 4o, 1796 ('froths' in text, 'froth' errata).
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froths] froth 1828, 1829.
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Mother of wild'ring dreams thy course pursue. With downcast eyes around thee stand The sombre Hours, a duteous band.
MS. E.
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obedience MS. 4o, 1796: Correction made in Errata.
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For lo! around thy MS. E.
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softer] gentler MS. E.
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meek-eyed] meekest MS. E.
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cheeks are] cheek is MS. E.
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Yet ere again the impurpled vale And elfin-haunted grove
MS. 4o.
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Yet ere again the purpling vale And elfin-haunted Grove Young Zephyr with fresh flowrets strews.
MS. 4o, MS. E.
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nectar-breathing] nectar-dropping MS. E.
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for] of MS. E.