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Tragic Poets, he made us read Shakespeare and Milton as lessons ; and 

 they were the lessons, too, which required most time and trouble to 

 'bring up,' so as to escape his censure." 



In this master's lessons we trace much of that common good sense 

 which has altered so largely the diction and style of modern English 

 poetr)^ " In our English compositions," says Coleridge, " he shewed 

 no mercy to phrase, metaphor, or image, unsupported by sound sense ; 

 or when the same sense might have been conveyed with equal force and 

 dignity in plainer words. Lute, harp, and lyre ; muse, muses, and inspi- 

 rations ; Pegasus, Parnassus, and Hippocrene, were all an abomination to 

 him. ' Pierian spring, boy,' he used to say, ' I suppose you mean the 

 cloister-pump !' 'Harp ! lyre ! boy, I suppose you mean pen and ink.'" 

 This sensible master sent his boys, however, to the University, excellent 

 Latin and Greek scholars, and tolerable Hebraists. One master in a 

 thousand, one might say. Coleridge was attracted, too, very much at 

 this period by the sonnets of Mr. Bowles, "a style of poetry," as he says, 

 "so tender and yet so manly; so natural and real, and yet so dignified 

 and harmonious," that they exercised a genial influence and an undis- 

 puted sway over his mind for a time. 



At College he was "indifferent and indolent;" still, he gained the 

 medal for the best Greek ode ; but after three years residence, he left 

 without taking any degree. It is said, he fell for a few months into evil 

 courses; at all events, he left in despondency, perhaps in debt, and enlisted 

 in London in a cavalry regiment. His friends soon procured for him a 

 discharge; and in June, 1794, he paid a visit to Oxford, when for the 

 first time he met Southey. This acquaintance put an end to all bad 

 habits, and indeed seems to have been the turning point in his life. In 

 the autumn, at Bristol, he again met Southey ; and the two young friends 

 discussed their scheme of establishing Pantisocracy, a model settlement, 

 on the banks of the Susquehanna. He also engaged himself to a sister 

 of Southey's future wife, — and in October was married to her. At this 

 time he assayed to become a Unitarian preacher at Bristol, and projected 

 a periodical called the "Watchman," which had an existence of only 

 three months. The preachership fell through, and disappointed his 



