However, Coleridge told William Southeby another story about what inspired him to write the poem[1] in a 10 September 1802 letter: "I involuntarily poured forth a Hymn in the manner of the Psalms, tho' afterwards I thought the Ideas &c disproportionate to our humble mountains—& accidentally lighting on a short Note in some swiss Poems, concerning the Vale of Chamouny, & it's Mountain, I transferred myself thither, in the Spirit, & adapted my former feelings to these grander external objects".
The original poem, "Chamonix beym Sonnenaufgange", dated May 1791, was published in Brun's collection Gedichte.
I gazed upon thee, Till thou, still present to the bodily sense, Didst vanish from my thought: entranced in prayer I worshipped the Invisible alone.
Yet, like some sweet beguiling melody, So sweet, we know not we are listening to it, Thou, the meanwhile, wast blending with my Thought, Yea, with my Life and Life's own secret Joy: Till the dilating Soul, enrapt, transfused, Into the mighty vision passing—there As in her natural form, swelled vast to Heaven!
[6] In part of the poem, Coleridge merges his own experience with the language borrowed from Brun:[7] And you, ye five wild torrents fiercely glad!
[6] In a manner similar to Coleridge's Kubla Khan, Hymn Before Sunrise describes a type of miraculous event in which singing rings out while mountain ice is melted by the sun.
[10] Coleridge was introduced to Brun's poem by August 1800, when his friend Wordsworth relied on the work for the story The Seven Sisters.
[11] Brun's "Chamouny at Sunrise" begins: From the deep shadow of the silent fir-grove I lift my eyes, and trembling look on thee, Brow of eternity, thou dazzling peak, From whose calm height my dreaming spirit mounts And soars away into the infinite!