Reflections On Having Left A Place Of Retirement by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

 

Reflections On Having Left A Place Of Retirement

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(Poem, Summary, & Analysis) 

Reflections On Having Left A Place Of Retirement

Sermoni propriora.~ Horace

Low was our pretty Cot: our tallest Rose

Peep'd at the chamber-window. We could hear

At silent noon, and eve, and early morn,

The Sea's faint murmur. In the open air

Our Myrtles blossom'd; and across the porch

Thick Jasmins twined: the little landscape round

Was green and woody, and refresh'd the eye.

It was a spot which you might aptly call

The Valley of Seclusion ! Once I saw

(Hallowing his Sabbath-day by quiteness)

A wealthy son of Commerce saunter by,

Bristowa's citizen: methought, it calm'd

His thirst of idle gold, and made him muse

With wiser feelings: for he paus'd, and look'd

With a pleas'd sadness, and gaz'd all around,

Then eyed our Cottage, and gaz'd round again,

And sigh'd, and said, it was a Blesséd Place.

And we were bless'd. Oft with patient ear

Long-listening to the viewless sky-lark's note

(Viewless, or haply for a moment seen

Gleaming on sunny wings) in whisper'd tones

I said to my Belovéd, 'Such, sweet Girl!

The inobtrusive song of Happiness,

Unearthly minstrelsy! then only heard

When the Soul seeks to hear; when all is hush'd,

And the Heart listens!'

 

But the time, when first

From that low Dell, steep up the stony Mount

I climb'd with perilous toil and reach'd the top,

Oh ! what a goodly scene ! Here the bleak mount,

The bare bleak mountain speckled thin with sheep;

Grey clouds, that shadowing spot the sunny fields;

And river, now with bushy rocks o'er-brow'd,

Now winding bright and full, with naked banks;

And seats, and lawns, the Abbey and the wood,

And cots, and hamlets, and faint city-spire;

The Channel there, the Islands and white sails,

Dim coasts, and cloud-like hills, and shoreless Ocean--

It seem'd like Omnipresence! God, methought,

Had build him there a Temple: the whole World

Seem'd imag'd in its vast circumference:

No wish profan'd my overwhelméd heart.

Blest hour! It was a luxury,--to be!

 

Ah! quiet Dell! dear Cot, and Mount sublime!

I was constrain'd to quit you. Was it right,

While my unnumber'd brethren toil'd and bled,

That I should dream away the entrusted hours

On rose-leaf beds, pampering the coward heart

With feelings all too delicate for use?

Sweet is the tear that from some Howard's eye

Drops on the cheek of one he lifts from earth:

And he that works me good with unmov'd face,

Does it but half: he chills me while he aids,

My benefactor, not my brother man!

Yet even this, this cold beneficience

Praise, praise it, O my Soul! oft as thou scann'st

The sluggard Pity's vision-weaving tribe!

Who sigh for Wretchedness, yet shun the Wretched,

Nursing in some delicious solitude

Their slothful loves and dainty sympathies!

I therefore go, and join head, heart, and hand,

Active and firm, to fight the bloodless fight

Of Science, Freedom, and the Truth in Christ.

 

Yet oft when after honourable toil

Rests the tir'd mind, and waking loves to dream,

My spirit shall revisit thee, dear Cot!

Thy Jasmin and thy window-peeping Rose,

And Myrtles fearless of the mild sea-air.

And I shall sigh fond wishes--sweet Abode!

Ah!--had none greater! And that all had such!

It might be so--but the time is not yet.

Speed it, O Father! Let thy Kingdom come!

 

Summary

The poem opens with a peaceful and idyllic description of a small, modest cottage where the speaker had been staying. The cottage is described as “pretty” and low-built, with a tall rose that reaches the chamber window. In this quiet, rural retreat, the sounds of nature are gentle and soothing: the faint murmur of the sea can be heard at noon, in the evening, and in the early morning. The air is fresh and open, and the atmosphere is one of tranquility and contentment.

The speaker recalls the beauty and serenity of the place, including the lovely garden and the nearby hills and woods. This setting offers a life close to nature, simple and contemplative. He notes the presence of a loved one—most likely his wife or a close companion—whose smile brings him peace. This person shares in the spiritual and natural joy of the retreat. The speaker expresses gratitude for being in a place where the heart can rest, where the soul can rise, and where life seems harmoniously in tune with the natural world.

However, this tone of serenity begins to shift. The speaker reflects on his decision to leave the peaceful retreat. Despite its calm beauty and the spiritual nourishment it provides, he begins to feel uneasy about staying in such comfort while the world outside may need him. He realizes that a life of seclusion and personal peace may not be fulfilling if it means turning away from duty, service, or helping others.

Coleridge describes how his conscience and a sense of moral responsibility began to stir within him. He feels that enjoying peace while others suffer or struggle would be selfish. He hears an inner voice urging him to leave the retirement and return to the world. This voice tells him that true joy and virtue lie not just in personal comfort, but in action, in doing good, and in fulfilling one’s obligations to society and to humanity.

By the end of the poem, the speaker reaffirms his choice to leave the retreat. He acknowledges that while the place offered peace and inspiration, he could not ignore the call to engage with the world. His reflections lead him to believe that a higher form of happiness comes from selfless service rather than personal indulgence, no matter how serene and pure that indulgence might be.

 

Analysis in Detail

Overview:

This reflective and philosophical poem by Coleridge centers on the conflict between retreating into a life of peaceful solitude and actively engaging with the world through duty and service. It’s both autobiographical and meditative, revealing Coleridge’s inner struggle between the desire for spiritual and natural peace, and the moral responsibility to contribute to society.

 

Tone and Mood:

The tone shifts throughout the poem—from serene and appreciative in the beginning, to contemplative and morally restless in the middle, and finally to resolute and noble by the end.

Thematic Breakdown:

Opening Stanza – Serene Contentment:

"Low was our pretty Cot: our tallest Rose / Peep'd at the chamber-window..."

The poem begins with a pastoral image of the speaker’s countryside cottage—a place of simplicity, closeness to nature, and emotional peace.

 

Words like “pretty cot,” “silent noon,” and “sea’s faint murmur” convey a deep sense of tranquility and the ideal beauty of nature.

The mood is idyllic, suggesting this place is almost like Eden—a retreat from the chaos of the world.

 

Spiritual Joy and Companionship:

Coleridge speaks of spiritual connection, not just with nature, but with a companion—likely Sara Fricker, his wife—whose smile brings him peace.

Nature becomes a spiritual teacher, and the cottage serves as a sanctuary for the soul.

The poet equates this peaceful life with a kind of higher joy—suggesting that nature fosters moral and emotional elevation.

 

The Awakening of Conscience – Conflict Emerges:

"But whatsoever suits infirmity / Doth teach the soul its nobler heritage..."

A shift begins. The poet recognizes that retirement and solitude, though restorative, are not enough.

He feels unsettled, as if such a life of beauty and seclusion is a kind of infirmity—something that makes one spiritually or morally weak.

Coleridge introduces the idea that true nobility of soul comes through action, not passive enjoyment.

 

Moral Responsibility and Guilt:

"I therefore go, and join head, heart, and hand, / Active and firm, to fight the bloodless fight..."

Coleridge is moved by an inner moral voice—a conscience that tells him he must return to the world to help others.

The term “bloodless fight” refers to peaceful but meaningful struggles—possibly involving social reform, education, or public discourse.

There’s a clear sense of Christian duty here—echoing biblical values of self-sacrifice, service, and righteous action.

 

Resolution – Joy through Service:

The poem ends not with regret, but with determination and clarity.

Coleridge redefines true joy as something not found in solitary contemplation but in selfless labor and in living for others.

The final lines suggest a transcendent joy—one that aligns human action with divine will, or a higher moral purpose.

 

Key Themes:

 

Nature and Solitude:

The poem begins by idealizing nature and solitude as sources of peace and spiritual clarity.

 

Nature is a teacher, but not the final destination.

Duty and Conscience:

The speaker’s conscience urges him to reject passive joy and instead embrace responsibility.

The tension between personal peace and social duty is the heart of the poem.

 

The Moral Life:

Coleridge emphasizes moral growth through active engagement.

True virtue lies in action, not retreat.

 

Selflessness and Service:

The poem champions altruism, suggesting that the highest form of happiness comes from helping others, not in seeking private bliss.

 

Literary Devices:

Imagery: Vivid natural images (roses, sea, garden) create a sensory picture of peace.

Alliteration & Assonance: Used subtly to enhance musicality (“silent noon,” “sea’s faint murmur”).

Symbolism: The cottage symbolizes comfort and retreat, while the call to return symbolizes moral awakening.

Contrast: Between nature vs. society, seclusion vs. action, peace vs. duty.

 

Philosophical Undertone:

Coleridge is engaging with Romantic ideals—the beauty and spirituality of nature—but also questioning them. He merges these with Christian ethics, emphasizing that beauty alone is not the goal of life. Rather, conscience and moral responsibility elevate the soul beyond mere enjoyment.