It is
certainly very like a metrical version of one of the pleasant variety
of opium-dreams described in De Quincey's poetic prose.
2. See Miss Meteyard (_A Group of Englishmen_, p. 223). Her
evidence, however, on any point otherwise doubtful in Coleridge's
history should be received with caution, as her estimate of the poet
certainly errs somewhat on the side of excessive harshness.
CHAPTER VI
Stay at Malta--Its injurious effects--Return to England--Meeting
with De Quincey--Residence in London--First series of lectures.
[1806-1809.]
Never was human being destined so sadly and signally to illustrate the
_coelum non animum_ aphorism as the unhappy passenger on the
_Speedwell_. Southey shall describe his condition when he left
England; and his own pathetic lines to William Wordsworth will picture
him to us on his return. "You are in great measure right about
Coleridge," writes the former to his friend Rickman, "he is worse in
body than you seem to believe; but the main cause lies in his own
management of himself, or rather want of management. His mind is in a
perpetual St. Vitus's dance--eternal activity without action. At times
he feels mortified that he should have done so little, but this feeling
never produces any exertion.
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