often forgotten by those who have discussed his theory. 66 66 The poems by Coleridge in this volume beside 'The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere" are The Foster-Mother's Tale," "The Nightingale," and "The Dungeon." I have added a few notes on the dates and occa sions of the poems, and on variations of text. My intention at first was to record the results of a complete collation of the several texts, but it be. came evident that such a body of notes would add too much to the bulk of the little volume. I have therefore aimed at brevity in my notes, which how. ever were not written until I had become intimately acquainted with the various states of the poems. The only alterations from the original which I have designedly made are (1) a comma placed after the word " Listen," p. 20, 1. 2, instead of what looks like a full stop in my copy of the edition of 1798, but what may be in fact a broken or ill-printed comma; and (2) a space inserted between the words "horse and behind," p. 66 IOI, 1. 2, which words are run together in some copies of the original. I have to thank Mr. Alfred W. Pollard for information about the copies of Lyrical Ballads in the British Museum Library, and in particular about the copy which was once in Southey's possession. This most interesting volume represents Coleridge and Wordsworth in their joyous prime, in 1797-98, that happy year of companionship at Nether Stowey and Alfoxden. A volume which opens with The Ancient Mariner" and closes with the "Lines written a few miles above Tintern Abbey" may well be considered one of the most remarkable in the whole range of English poetry. 1891. E. D. CONTENTS. Lines written at a small distance from my House, and sent Lines written near Richmond, upon the Thames, at Evening |