Apart too from its
literary merits, the biographical interest of _Religious Musings_
is very considerable. "Written," as its title declares, but in reality,
as its length would suggest and as Mr. Cottle in fact tells us, only
_completed_, "on the Christmas eve of 1794," it gives expression
to the tumultuous emotions by which Coleridge's mind was agitated at
this its period of highest political excitement. His revolutionary
enthusiasm was now at its hottest, his belief in the infant French
Republic at its fullest, his wrath against the "coalesced kings" at its
fiercest, his contempt for their religious pretence at its bitterest.
"Thee to defend," he cries,
"Thee to defend, dear Saviour of mankind!
Thee, Lamb of God! Thee, blameless Prince of Peace!
From all sides rush the thirsty brood of war--
Austria, and that foul Woman of the North,
The lustful murderess of her wedded lord,
And he, connatural mind! whom (in their songs,
So bards of elder time had haply feigned)
Some Fury fondled in her hate to man,
Bidding her serpent hair in tortuous fold
Lick his young face, and at his mouth imbreathe
Horrible sympathy!"
This is vigorous poetic invective; and the effect of such outbursts is
heightened by the rapid subsidence of the passion that inspires them
and the quick advent of a calmer mood.
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