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细节
COLERIDGE, Samuel Taylor. Autograph manuscript signed (“S.T. Coleridge”) of “Sonnet addressed to Miss E. Bullock,” n.p., November 1817. One page, 4to, edges slightly frayed and toned. Provenance: John M. Schiff (his sale Sotheby’s New York, 11 December 1990, lot 75A.
AN UNPUBLISHED SONNET
“The lines are only known from a Sotheby’s catalogue description of 1913 [the eds. were apparently unaware of its re-emergence in the Schiff sale], where they are quoted as part of an autograph ms sonnet to Miss. E. Bullock… Betsy Bullock was the sister of Mrs Milne, a Highgate neighbor, whose family was especially friendly with the Gillmans” (The Collected Works, Princeton: Bollingen Series, 2001, p. 944 no. 542).
The manuscript contains five corrections and emendations, making it most likely a working draft. It reads:
Twas dull November, dim the moon, each Flower
That in its beam erewhile had gleam’d or glitter’d
Had left our garden, on its walks but littr’d;
When to my chamber at my wanted Hour.
Retiring, on the table gay and bright
Fruit and green leaves and Florets did I view,
A faery gift! And yet tho’ gay each Hue,
There was a solemn Comfort in the sight.
Dear Betsy! Well I guess’d who plac’d them there,
And saw with upraised eye: Sweet Friend! even so
When to her Room of Sleep thy soul shall go
To unrobe her of her vesture frail as fair,
May Faith and Conscience clear its gloom with Flowers
That shall bear fruit for thee in Eden Bowers!
AN UNPUBLISHED SONNET
“The lines are only known from a Sotheby’s catalogue description of 1913 [the eds. were apparently unaware of its re-emergence in the Schiff sale], where they are quoted as part of an autograph ms sonnet to Miss. E. Bullock… Betsy Bullock was the sister of Mrs Milne, a Highgate neighbor, whose family was especially friendly with the Gillmans” (The Collected Works, Princeton: Bollingen Series, 2001, p. 944 no. 542).
The manuscript contains five corrections and emendations, making it most likely a working draft. It reads:
Twas dull November, dim the moon, each Flower
That in its beam erewhile had gleam’d or glitter’d
Had left our garden, on its walks but littr’d;
When to my chamber at my wanted Hour.
Retiring, on the table gay and bright
Fruit and green leaves and Florets did I view,
A faery gift! And yet tho’ gay each Hue,
There was a solemn Comfort in the sight.
Dear Betsy! Well I guess’d who plac’d them there,
And saw with upraised eye: Sweet Friend! even so
When to her Room of Sleep thy soul shall go
To unrobe her of her vesture frail as fair,
May Faith and Conscience clear its gloom with Flowers
That shall bear fruit for thee in Eden Bowers!