Cette suspension consentante de l'incrédulité, suspension momentanée, qui constitue la foi poétique.
Biographia Literariach. 14
Contexte et précisions
Autre traduction : "Cette suspension volontaire et momentanée de l'incrédulité qui constitue la foi du poète"
En anglais : "In this idea originated the plan of the "Lyrical Ballads"; in which it was agreed, that my endeavours should be directed to persons and characters supernatural, or at least romantic; yet so as to transfer from our inward nature a human interest and a semblance of truth sufficient to procure for these shadows of imagination that willing suspension of disbelief for the moment, which constitutes poetic faith. Mr. Wordsworth, on the other hand, was to propose to himself as his object, to give the charm of novelty to things of every day, and to excite a feeling analogous to the supernatural, by awakening the mind's attention from the lethargy of custom, and directing it to the loveliness and the wonders of the world before us; an inexhaustible treasure, but for which, in consequence of the film of familiarity and selfish solicitude we have eyes, yet see not, ears that hear not, and hearts that neither feel nor understand."
Cette "suspension de l'incrédulité" de Coleridge est évoquée par Borges sa conférence "La Divine Comédie" : "Coleridge a dit que la foi du poète est une suspension volontaire de l'incrédulité. Quand nous assistons à une représentation théâtrale, nous savons qu'il y a des hommes déguisés qui répètent les mots paroles que Shakespeare, Ibsen ou Pirandello leur font dire. ..."