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Thomas
Maurice In following one footnote after another, in his pursuit of imagery for his
projected hymns to the sun and the moon, Coleridge evidently read Thomas
Maurice's History of Hindostan. Maurice talks of a sacred river, a cave of
ice, and a pavilion somewhat like the pleasure dome in Kubla Khan. Lowes believes that in doing research for his hymns, he
collected "highly picturesque details." Lowes says, Coleridge's mind, it is plain, was picking up like a
magnet imagery associated with the sun and the moon. ...
And his eye--as quick to take notice as those of any five Chinese
astronomers!--would assuredly catch this. (p. 381). Putting aside Lowes' tendency to beg the question
(claiming his hypothesis is, assuredly, plain), we can still see some
possibility of influence. Thomas Maurice.
The History of Hindostan. By the author of Indian
Antiquities. Vol 1, 1795. Vol II 1798 (799). London. |
 Other sources
William Bartram |