But the
fine scheme came to nothing, for meanwhile none of the company
had enough money to pay for his passage to the banks of the
beautiful-sounding river. Coleridge and Southey, however,
carried out part of the program. They both married, their wives
being sisters.
Coleridge, about the same time as he married, published a volume
of poems. But as this did not bring him wealth he then tried
various other ways of making a living. He began a weekly paper
which ceased after a few numbers, he lectured on history, and
preached in various Unitarian chapels. Then after a time he
settled at Nether Stowey, where he was living when he met
Wordsworth.
The two poets, as has been said, at once became friends,
Coleridge having a deep and whole-hearted admiration for
Wordworth's genius. "I speak with heartfelt sincerity," he says,
"and I think unblinded judgment, when I tell you that I feel a
little man by his side."
The two friends had many walks and talks together, shaping their
ideas of what poetry should be.
Pages:
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867