10. SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (+1772-1834+), a true poet, and a writer of noble prose, was born at Ottery St Mary, in Devonshire, in 1772. His father, who was vicar of the parish, and master of the grammar-school, died when the boy was only nine years of age. He was educated at Christ’s Hospital, in London, where his most famous schoolfellow was Charles Lamb; and from there he went to Jesus College, Cambridge. In 1793 he had fallen into debt at College; and, in despair, left Cambridge, and enlisted in the 15th Light Dragoons, under the name of Silas Tomkins Comberbatch. He was quickly discovered, and his discharge soon obtained. While on a visit to his friend Robert Southey, at Bristol, the plan of emigrating to the banks of the Susquehanna, in Pennsylvania, was entered on; but, when all the friends and fellow-emigrants were ready to start, it was discovered that no one of them had any money. --Coleridge finally became a literary man and journalist. His real power, however, lay in poetry; but by poetry he could not make a living. His first volume of poems was published at Bristol, in the year 1796; but it was not till 1798 that the +Rime of the Ancient Mariner+ appeared in the ‘Lyrical Ballads.’ His next greatest poem, +Christabel+, though written in 1797, was not published till the year 1816. His other best poems are +Love+; +Dejection--an Ode+; and some of his shorter pieces. His best poetry was written about the close of the century: “Coleridge,” said Wordsworth, “was in blossom from 1796 to 1800.” --As a critic and prose-writer, he is one of the greatest men of his time. His best works in prose are +The Friend+ and the +Aids to Reflection+. He died at Highgate, near London, in the year 1834. 11. His style, both in prose and in verse, marks the beginning of the modern era. His prose style is noble, elaborate, eloquent, and full of subtle and involved thought; his style in verse is always musical, and abounds in rhythms of the most startling and novel-- yet always genuine-- kind. +Christabel+ is the poem that is most full of these fine musical rhythms. 12. ROBERT SOUTHEY (+1774-1843+), poet, reviewer, historian, but, above all, man of letters,-- the friend of Coleridge and Wordsworth,-- was born at Bristol in 1774. He was educated at Westminster School and at Balliol College, Oxford. After his marriage with Miss Edith Fricker-- a sister of Sara, the wife of Coleridge-- he settled at Greta Hall, near Keswick, in 1803; and resided there until his death in 1843. In 1813 he was created +Poet-Laureate+ by George III. --He was the most indefatigable of writers. He wrote poetry before breakfast; history between breakfast and dinner; reviews between dinner and supper; and, even when taking a constitutional, he had always a book in his hand, and walked along the road reading. He began to write and to publish at the age of nineteen; he never ceased writing till the year 1837, when his brain softened from the effects of perpetual labour.