Nature

Lines: Richer than Miser o'er his countless hoards

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1772–1834

From Complete Poetical Works, ed. E. H. Coleridge (1912)

Nature

Richer than Miser o'er his countless hoards,
Nobler than Kings, or king-polluted Lords,
Here dwelt the MAN OF ROSS! O Traveller, hear!
Departed Merit claims a reverent tear.
Friend to the friendless, to the sick man health,
With generous joy he view'd his modest wealth;
He heard the widow's heaven-breath'd prayer of praise,
He mark'd the shelter'd orphan's tearful gaze,
Or where the sorrow-shrivell'd captive lay,
Pour'd the bright blaze of Freedom's noon-tide ray.
Beneath this roof if thy cheer'd moments pass,
Fill to the good man's name one grateful glass:
To higher zest shall Memory wake thy soul,
And Virtue mingle in the ennobled bowl.
But if, like me, through Life's distressful scene
Lonely and sad thy pilgrimage hath been;
And if thy breast with heart-sick anguish fraught,
Thou journeyest onward tempest-tossed in thought;
Here cheat thy cares! in generous visions melt,
And dream of Goodness, thou hast never felt!

✦ ✦ ✦

Written at the King's Arms, Ross, Formerly the House of the 'Man of Ross'. 1794

MLA

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. “Lines: Richer than Miser o'er his countless hoards.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/coleridge/139/.

Chicago

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. “Lines: Richer than Miser o'er his countless hoards.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/coleridge/139/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Samuel Taylor Coleridge