To William Wordsworth - Samuel Taylor Coleridge
/To William Wordsworth - Samuel Taylor Coleridge/
A Poetic Salute to a Kindred Romantic Spirit
Original Poem (English), line by line (commonly cited version):
Friend of the wise! and teacher of the good!
Into my heart have I received that Lay
More than historic, that prophetic Lay
Wherein (high theme by thee first sung aright)
Of the foundations and the building up
Of a Human Spirit, thou hast dared to tell
What may be told, to the understanding mind
Revealable; and what within the mind
By vital breathings secret as the soul
Of vernal growth, oft quickens in the heart
Thoughts all too deep for words!—
Theme hard as high!
Of smiles spontaneous, and mysterious fears
(The first-born they of Reason and twin-birth)
Of tides obedient to external force,
And currents self-determin’d, as might seem,
Or by interior power; of moments awful,
Now in thy inner life, and now abroad,
When power stream’d from thee, and thy soul received
The light reflected, as a light bestowed—
Of Fancies fair, and milder hours of youth,
Hyblæan murmurs of poetic thought,
Industrious in its joy, in Vales and Glens,
Native or outland, Lakes and famous Hills!
Or on the lonely High-road, when the Stars
Were rising; or by secret Mountain-streams,
The Guides and the Companions of thy way!
Of more than Fancy, of the social Sense
Distending wide, and man beloved as man,
Where France in all her towns lay vibrating
Like some becalméd bark beneath the burst
Of Heaven’s immediate thunder, when no cloud
Is visible, or shadow on the Main.
For thou wert then first quicken’d, first inspired;
But since, thy voice hath peal’d such cheers to love,
Thou hast received such recompense, and proved
That Fate reserves a partial, for her sons
Of moral and of intellectual grandeur,
Some rare reward, that Earth nor Hell can claim.
Hence thou art dear to me, and dear the themes
That in thy mighty mind revolve, and dear
All shatter’d creatures, that no sense have left,
Nor relic of enjoyments now no more;
Dear to the Lover’s and the Mourner’s heart;
But dearer still to me, whose worth unchain’d
And unsubdued the pilgrim spirit owns,
By all those feelings nursed in solitude,
That sleep at times, but when the poet stirs,
Shrill, loud, thrice-loud, and that they may be heard,
Shake the profound of thought.
Wondrous adventurer!
Battling with adverse gales on the vex’d seas
Of this great world, where thou hast ventured forth,
Alone and guideless, yet thou hast not been
Without the presence of that mighty Spirit,
Who rules the shining host of Heaven, the soul
Of all things living; He thy bark sustains!
And thus I hail thee, Brother of my soul!
“To William Wordsworth” stands as Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s tribute to his close friend and creative partner, William Wordsworth. Written in 1807 (though some date it slightly differently), this address reflects their shared philosophical and poetic vision, forged during the period when they co-launched the Romantic movement in England. Central to the poem is Coleridge’s praise for Wordsworth’s poetic accomplishment, specifically referencing Wordsworth’s magnum opus—often interpreted as “The Prelude,” an autobiographical epic about the formation of the human mind.
In formal terms, Coleridge weaves long, thoughtful lines with emphatic enjambment that mirrors the reflective, discursive nature of the content. The poem highlights Wordsworth’s ability to distill profound spiritual and psychological truths from everyday experiences, thus inspiring in the reader an awe of nature and humanity’s moral capacities. Coleridge calls Wordsworth ‘Friend of the wise! and teacher of the good!’ emphasizing that the poem is simultaneously a personal commendation and a public declaration of Wordsworth’s significant role in shaping contemporary literary thought.
Thematically, “To William Wordsworth” resonates with the Romantic emphasis on imagination, personal introspection, and the unity between mind and external world. Coleridge underscores the transformative power of Wordsworth’s verse: it encourages readers to look inward for meaning, while remaining keenly aware of nature and society. The poem culminates in a fraternal salutation, celebrating the bond Coleridge and Wordsworth share: a common quest to chart the soul’s growth and to champion the enduring human spirit, even in a turbulent era. (Approx. 200 words)
Key points
1. Coleridge’s poem explicitly honors Wordsworth’s profound poetic insights, especially regarding the development of human consciousness.
2. The text functions as both affectionate praise and a philosophical testament to Romantic ideals.
3. Coleridge’s style here is contemplative, reflecting the intellectual depth that both poets prized.
4. The poem references the transformative period when Wordsworth was composing his autobiographical masterpiece, likely “The Prelude.”
5. “To William Wordsworth” exemplifies the era’s Romantic fellowship, where friendship and poetic innovation went hand in hand.
