A FAREWELL ODE ON QUITTING SCHOOL FOR JESUS COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
Where graced with many a cla.s.sic spoil CAM rolls his reverend stream along, I haste to urge the learned toil That sternly chides my love-lorn song: Ah me! too mindful of the days 5 Illumed by Pa.s.sion"s orient rays, When Peace, and Cheerfulness and Health Enriched me with the best of wealth.
Ah fair Delights! that o"er my soul On Memory"s wing, like shadows fly! 10 Ah Flowers! which Joy from Eden stole While Innocence stood smiling by!-- But cease, fond Heart! this bootless moan: Those Hours on rapid Pinions flown Shall yet return, by Absence crown"d, 15 And scatter livelier roses round.
The Sun who ne"er remits his fires On heedless eyes may pour the day: The Moon, that oft from Heaven retires, Endears her renovated ray. 20 What though she leave the sky unblest To mourn awhile in murky vest?
When she relumes her lovely light, We bless the Wanderer of the Night.
1791.
FOOTNOTES:
[29:2] First published in _Cambridge Intelligencer_, October 11, 1794: included in 1796, 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834.
LINENOTES:
t.i.tle] Sonnet on Quitting Christ"s Hospital MS. O. Absence, A Farewell Ode 1796, 1803.
HAPPINESS[30:1]
On wide or narrow scale shall Man Most happily describe Life"s plan?
Say shall he bloom and wither there, Where first his infant buds appear; Or upwards dart with soaring force, 5 And tempt some more ambitious course?
Obedient now to Hope"s command, I bid each humble wish expand, And fair and bright Life"s prospects seem.
While Hope displays her cheering beam, 10 And Fancy"s vivid colourings stream, While Emulation stands me nigh The G.o.ddess of the eager eye.
With foot advanc"d and anxious heart Now for the fancied goal I start:-- 15 Ah! why will Reason intervene Me and my promis"d joys between!
She stops my course, she chains my speed, While thus her forceful words proceed:-- Ah! listen, Youth, ere yet too late, 20 What evils on thy course may wait!
To bow the head, to bend the knee, A minion of Servility, At low Pride"s frequent frowns to sigh, And watch the glance in Folly"s eye; 25 To toil intense, yet toil in vain, And feel with what a hollow pain Pale Disappointment hangs her head O"er darling Expectation dead!
"The scene is changed and Fortune"s gale 30 Shall belly out each prosperous sail.
Yet sudden wealth full well I know Did never happiness bestow.
That wealth to which we were not born Dooms us to sorrow or to scorn. 35 Behold yon flock which long had trod O"er the short gra.s.s of Devon"s sod, To Lincoln"s rank rich meads transferr"d, And in their fate thy own be fear"d; Through every limb contagions fly, 40 Deform"d and choked they burst and die.
"When Luxury opens wide her arms, And smiling wooes thee to those charms, Whose fascination thousands own, Shall thy brows wear the stoic frown? 45 And when her goblet she extends Which maddening myriads press around, What power divine thy soul befriends That thou should"st dash it to the ground?-- No, thou shalt drink, and thou shalt know 50 Her transient bliss, her lasting woe, Her maniac joys, that know no measure, And Riot rude and painted Pleasure;-- Till (sad reverse!) the Enchantress vile To frowns converts her magic smile; 55 Her train impatient to destroy, Observe her frown with gloomy joy; On thee with harpy fangs they seize The hideous offspring of Disease, Swoln Dropsy ignorant of Rest, 60 And Fever garb"d in scarlet vest, Consumption driving the quick hea.r.s.e, And Gout that howls the frequent curse, With Apoplex of heavy head That surely aims his dart of lead. 65 "But say Life"s joys unmix"d were given To thee some favourite of Heaven: Within, without, tho" all were health-- Yet what e"en thus are Fame, Power, Wealth, But sounds that variously express, 70 What"s thine already--Happiness!
"Tis thine the converse deep to hold With all the famous sons of old; And thine the happy waking dream While Hope pursues some favourite theme, 75 As oft when Night o"er Heaven is spread, Round this maternal seat you tread, Where far from splendour, far from riot, In silence wrapt sleeps careless Quiet.
"Tis thine with Fancy oft to talk, 80 And thine the peaceful evening walk; And what to thee the sweetest are-- The setting sun, the Evening Star-- The tints, which live along the sky, And Moon that meets thy raptur"d eye, 85 Where oft the tear shall grateful start, Dear silent pleasures of the Heart!
Ah! Being blest, for Heaven shall lend To share thy simple joys a friend!
Ah! doubly blest, if Love supply 90 His influence to complete thy joy, If chance some lovely maid thou find To read thy visage in thy mind.
"One blessing more demands thy care:-- Once more to Heaven address the prayer: 95 For humble independence pray The guardian genius of thy way; Whom (sages say) in days of yore Meek Competence to Wisdom bore, So shall thy little vessel glide 100 With a fair breeze adown the tide, And Hope, if e"er thou "ginst to sorrow, Remind thee of some fair to-morrow, Till Death shall close thy tranquil eye While Faith proclaims "Thou shalt not die!"" 105
1791.
FOOTNOTES:
[30:1] First published in 1834. The poem was sent to George Coleridge in a letter dated June 22, 1791. An adapted version of ll. 80-105 was sent to Southey, July 13, 1794.
LINENOTES:
t.i.tle] Upon the Author"s leaving school and entering into Life. MS. O (c).
[6] tempt] dare MS. O, MS. O (c).
[10] While] When MS. O, MS. O (c).
[Between 11-13]
How pants my breast before my eyes While Honour WAVES her radiant prize.
And Emulation, &c.
MS. O, MS. O (c).
[22] To bend the head, to bow MS. O (c).
[24] frowns] frown MS. O, MS. O (c).
[25] in] of MS. O (c).
[41] Deformed, choaked MS. O, MS. O (c).
[45] brows] brow MS. O, MS. O (c).
[55] magic] wonted MS. O, MS. O (c).
[57] her frown] the fiend MS. O, MS. O (c).
[68] Without, within MS. O, MS. O (c).
[76] is] has MS O, MS. O (c).
[77] _Note_--Christ"s Hospital MS. O: Ottery S. Mary in Devonshire MS. O (c).
[80-1]
"Tis thine with faery forms to talk And thine the philosophic walk.
Letter to Southey, 1794.
[84] which] that MS. O, MS. O (c), Letter, 1794.
[85] And] The Letter, 1794.
[86] Where grateful oft the big drops start. Letter, 1794. shall] does MS. O (c).
[90-3]