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University of Virginia Library

Poems by William Wetmore Story

Story, William Wetmore (1819-1895)

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1.

VOL. I. PARCHMENTS AND PORTRAITS

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BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION.

NOTE BY THE EDITOR.

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PARCHMENTS AND PALIMPSESTS.

A ROMAN LAWYER IN JERUSALEM.

A JEWISH RABBI IN ROME.

A PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN IN ROME.

PHIDIAS TO PERICLES.

MARCUS AURELIUS TO LUCIUS VERUS.

GIROLAMO, DETTO IL FIORENTINO, DESPONDS AND ABUSES THE WORLD.

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PORTRAITS AND PERSONS.

MARCUS ANTONIUS.

PRAXITELES AND PHRYNE.

PADRE BANDELLI PROSES TO THE DUKE LUDOVICO SFORZA ABOUT LEONARDO DA VINCI.

LEONARDO DA VINCI POETIZES TO THE DUKE IN HIS OWN DEFENCE.

A CONTEMPORARY CRITICISM:

IN THE ANTECHAMBER OF MONSIGNORE DEL FIOCCO.

THE LESSON OF MONSIGNORE GALEOTTO.

THE PADRE AND THE NOVICE.

IN ST. PETER'S.

BARON FISCO AT HOME.

EVENING IN SUMMER.

THE CHIFFONIER.

AN ESTRANGEMENT.

THE MANDOLINATA.

THE EMPTY HALL.

THE DESOLATION OF JERUSALEM.

AN ENGLISH HUSBAND TO HIS ITALIAN WIFE.

NINA AND HER TREASURES.

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2.

VOL II. MONOLOGUES AND LYRICS

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DRAMATIC MONOLOGUES AND NARRATIVES.

GINEVRA DA SIENA.

AUNT RACHEL'S STORY.

THE THREE SINGERS.

THE BATTLE OF MORAT.

THE CONFESSIONAL.

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AT THE VILLA CONTI.

UNDER THE ILEXES.

AUTUMN IN TUSCANY.

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COMPANIONS ON THE ROAD.

“DE MORTUIS.”

LOVE AND DEATH.

AFTER MANY DAYS.

VETERIS VESTIGIA FLAMMÆ.

IN THE MOONLIGHT.

THE SAD COUNTRY.

TWENTY YEARS AGO.

THE GARDEN OF ROSES.

COMING INTO PORT.

THE END OF THE BANQUET.

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LITTLE WE KNOW WHAT SECRET INFLUENCE.

GLAD IS THE SUNSHINE.

THE MIGHTY MAKERS.

GIOTTO'S CHAPEL.

IT WOULD NOT SEEM TO ME ONE HALF SO STRANGE.

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1.

[I. What were we made for? If to struggle here]

2.

[II. We are pursued by Fate; nothing on earth]

3.

III. High as man's hopes may fly, he ever falls

AFTER LONG DAYS OF DULL PERPETUAL RAIN.

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SINGING AT TWILIGHT.

UN BACIO DATO NON È MAI PERDUTO.

ON THE SURFACE.

O FILIA PULCHRA!

LOVE AND PRUDENCE.

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1.

[I. To each his separate work; the ox to drag the plough]

2.

II. SHAKESPEARE.

3.

[III. Strive not to say the whole! the Poet, in his Art]

4.

[IV. We of our age are part, and every thrill that wakes]

5.

[V. All Arts are one, howe'er distributed they stand]

6.

[VI. Lift thou thyself above the accidents of life]

7.

[VII. Yes, thrift is very good. Respect to men of thrift]

8.

[VIII. Live not without a friend! The Alpine rock must own]

9.

[IX. While we are young our youth too near for Art doth lie]

10.

[X. That dress of thine is made of many lives; I see]

11.

[XI. The conscious Intellect the servant is of Art]

12.

[XII. An inward faith alone can make our life sincere]

13.

[XIII. Nature in circles moves round fixed and central laws]

14.

[XIV. We are but what we think, and must immortal be]

15.

[XV. The East for sweet luxurious ease and rest]

16.

[XVI. The Imperfect hath a charm the Perfect cannot own]

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[II. We are pursued by Fate; nothing on earth]

We are pursued by Fate; nothing on earth
Flowers into satisfaction; on the skirt
Of all temptation, hidden yet alert,
Hangs disappointment ready to spring forth
And jar with discord the clear song of mirth;
Even our best pleasure has the sting of hurt,

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And prayers and tears are futile to avert
The Nemesis that haunts us from our birth.

Oh! what avail our struggles, who are caught
In Fate's inextricable web! In vain
Through the dark future our exhausted thought
Seeks for a resting place secure from pain;
Our Present crumbles 'neath us while we laugh,
Our Past has but a sigh for epitaph.