COLERIDGE'S APPRECIATION OF PRINGLE'S POEM. 87 



I feel as a moth in the Mighty Hand, 

 That spread the Heavens and heaved the land, 

 A "still small voice" comes through the wild 

 (Like a father consoling his fretful child) 

 Which banishes bitterness, wrath, and fear, 

 Saying ''''Man is distant, but God is near." 



After Mr. Pringle's death which took place in London 

 in Dec. 1834, a new edition of his poems with a 

 sketch of their author's life was published, edited by 

 Leitch Richey (8vo. London 1839), who comments upon 

 this poem in these terms 



" The finest and most finished of the larger poetical pieces in 

 this collection undoubtedly is 'Afar in the Desert.' This is 

 a poem, which once having read, it is difficult to forget It 

 lingers in the ears, like one of those old melodies that are 

 associated with ideas at once of sadness and of beauty." 



Coleridge on seeing it in Thompson's travels, wrote 

 to Mr. Pringle respecting it, in the following terms 

 " I was taken so completely possession of, that for 

 some days I did little else but read and recite your 

 poem " (Extract Coleridge's letter to Pringle). 



(N.B. Since these pages were written, a new edition 

 of Thomas Pringle's poetical works has been published 

 by Messrs. J. C. Juta & Co. of Cape Town, edited by 

 John Noble, Clerk to the House of Assembly.) 



