Sonnet XI. To Sheridan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

Sonnet XI. To Sheridan

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

Sonnet XI. To Sheridan

It was some spirit, Sheridan! that breath'd

O'er thy young mind such wildly-various power!

My soul hath marked thee in her shaping hour,

Thy temples with Hymettian flowrets wreath'd:

And sweet thy voice, as when o'er Laura's bier

Sad music trembled thro' Vauclusa's glade;

Sweet, as at dawn the love-lorn Serenade

That wafts soft dreams to Slumber's list'ning ear.

Now patriot Rage and Indignation high

Swell the full tones! And now thine eye-beams dance

Meanings of Scorn and Wit's quaint revelry!

Writhes inly from the bosom-probing glance

Th' Apostate by the brainless rout adores,

As erst that elder Fiend beneath great Michael's sword.

Summary

The speaker begins by expressing admiration for Richard Brinsley Sheridan, attributing his exceptional talents to some spiritual force that must have inspired him in his youth. He says:

“It was some spirit, Sheridan! that breath’d / O’er thy young mind such wildly-various power!”

This suggests that Sheridan’s remarkable and diverse abilities must have come from a divine or supernatural influence that breathed life into his young mind.

“My soul hath marked thee in her shaping hour, / Thy temples with Hymettian flowrets wreath’d:”

Here, the speaker recalls how his own soul took note of Sheridan during a formative or imaginative moment ("shaping hour"), envisioning him crowned with Hymettian flowers—flowers from Mount Hymettus in Greece, known for their honey, symbolizing sweetness and poetic inspiration.

“And sweet thy voice, as when o’er Laura’s bier / Sad music trembled thro’ Vauclusa’s glade;”

Coleridge compares Sheridan’s voice to sad music played over Laura's bier (coffin), referencing Petrarch’s muse Laura and the Vaucluse, where Petrarch often wrote. This line conveys that Sheridan's voice is as moving and poetic as that lamenting music.

“Sweet, as at dawn the love-lorn Serenade / That wafts soft dreams to Slumber’s list’ning ear.”

He further compares Sheridan's voice to a serenade at dawn, softly reaching the ears of a sleeping lover, again emphasizing its tender and dreamlike sweetness.

“Now patriot Rage and Indignation high / Swell the full tones!”

The mood shifts, and Coleridge observes how Sheridan’s voice can also rise in patriotic anger and high indignation, filling his speech with passionate intensity.

“And now thine eye-beams dance / Meanings of Scorn and Wit's quaint revelry!”

Sheridan’s eyes are described as sparkling with scornful meanings and witty humor, showing his lively and clever nature.

“Writhes inly from the bosom-probing glance / Th' Apostate by the brainless rout adores,”

Coleridge describes how a false or betraying figure (the Apostate)—who is foolishly admired by the ignorant crowd—winces inwardly when exposed to Sheridan’s sharp and penetrating gaze.

“As erst that elder Fiend beneath great Michael's sword.”

Finally, he likens this reaction to how Satan (the elder Fiend) once writhed under the sword of the Archangel Michael, referencing the biblical battle in heaven—indicating the powerful effect of Sheridan's truth and moral force.

Analysis in Detail

Context:

This sonnet is addressed to Richard Brinsley Sheridan, a celebrated Irish playwright, orator, and politician. Coleridge admired Sheridan for his dramatic genius, witty political speeches, and passionate defense of liberty and justice. The poem praises his unique talents, both artistic and rhetorical.

Line-by-Line Analysis:

Lines 1–2:

It was some spirit, Sheridan! that breath’d

O’er thy young mind such wildly-various power!

Coleridge begins with an exclamatory tone, expressing awe at Sheridan’s diverse abilities—his talent is so extraordinary that it seems supernaturally inspired. The phrase “wildly-various power” emphasizes versatility—Sheridan was not only a dramatist but also a powerful orator and satirist. The mention of “some spirit” suggests a divine muse or guiding force—hinting at a Romantic notion that true genius is inborn and otherworldly.

Lines 3–4:

My soul hath marked thee in her shaping hour,

Thy temples with Hymettian flowrets wreath’d:

Coleridge personifies his own soul, saying it recognized Sheridan's greatness during a moment of poetic insight ("shaping hour"). The image of wreathing temples with Hymettian flowers is classical and symbolic: Mount Hymettus in Greece was famous for its honey and flowers—symbols of sweetness, elegance, and refined poetic inspiration. This portrays Sheridan as a figure of beauty, intellect, and artistic grace, shaped by classical ideals.

Lines 5–6:

And sweet thy voice, as when o’er Laura’s bier

Sad music trembled thro’ Vauclusa’s glade;

These lines evoke Petrarch and Laura, with Vaucluse referring to the wooded region where Petrarch mourned his muse. Sheridan’s voice is likened to melancholic music played at Laura’s funeral—this positions his speech or writing as both deeply emotional and lyrically beautiful. The reference taps into the Romantic idealization of love and loss, and also aligns Sheridan with literary immortals like Petrarch.

Lines 7–8:

Sweet, as at dawn the love-lorn Serenade

That wafts soft dreams to Slumber’s list’ning ear.

Again, Coleridge praises the sweetness of Sheridan’s voice—this time likening it to a serenade performed at dawn, suggesting a time of quiet intimacy. The phrase “love-lorn” adds emotional depth, while “Slumber’s listening ear” creates a dreamy, almost hypnotic image. Sheridan’s voice has the power to enchant and soothe, conveying delicate emotional nuance.

Lines 9–10:

Now patriot Rage and Indignation high

Swell the full tones!

This is a dramatic shift from softness to power. Coleridge admires how Sheridan’s voice can change from lyrical sweetness to fierce political passion. “Patriot Rage” and “Indignation” show his righteous anger against oppression or injustice. This duality—tenderness and strength—marks Sheridan as a Romantic hero, capable of both deep feeling and bold action.

Lines 11–12:

And now thine eye-beams dance

Meanings of Scorn and Wit's quaint revelry!

Here, Sheridan’s expressive eyes reflect his sharp wit and mocking humor. The phrase “quaint revelry” suggests clever playfulness, while “scorn” hints at satirical power. This portrays Sheridan as someone who entertains while criticizing, using humor as a tool for social or political commentary—in line with his reputation as a skilled playwright and speaker.

Lines 13–14:

Writhes inly from the bosom-probing glance

Th’ Apostate by the brainless rout adores,

As erst that elder Fiend beneath great Michael’s sword.

Coleridge ends with a powerful image. An Apostate (someone who betrays a cause or belief) is inwardly tormented by Sheridan’s piercing gaze—a metaphor for his moral and intellectual clarity. The crowd (referred to as “brainless rout”) may admire this false figure, but Sheridan sees through the hypocrisy. Coleridge compares this to Satan ("that elder Fiend") recoiling under the sword of the Archangel Michael, a biblical allusion that emphasizes the righteous force of Sheridan’s truth and judgment.

Themes:

Genius and Inspiration: Sheridan’s talents are portrayed as a gift from a higher power.

Romantic Ideal of the Artist: Both emotionally sensitive and fiercely righteous.

Dual Nature of Expression: Sheridan's voice and presence can be gentle or thunderous, artistic or politically charged.

Truth vs. Hypocrisy: Sheridan exposes falsehood with wit and moral authority.

Classical and Romantic Fusion: Greek and biblical allusions blend with Romantic admiration for emotion, nature, and moral power.

Tone and Style:

The tone is admiring, elevated, and passionate.

The sonnet blends classical references, poetic imagery, and rhetorical intensity.

It follows the Petrarchan sonnet form: octave (first 8 lines) introduces admiration, sestet (last 6 lines) shows moral and political strength.

Paraphrase

Some kind of spirit must have inspired you, Sheridan,