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The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere

De Vere, Aubrey (1814-1902)

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VOL. I. THE SEARCH AFTER PROSERPINE
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RECOLLECTIONS OF GREECE,
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KING HENRY THE SECOND AT THE TOMB OF KING ARTHUR,
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SONNETS.
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MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
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SONNETS.
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THE YEAR OF SORROW AND OTHER POEMS.
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SONNETS WRITTEN IN TRAVEL.
 I. 
I. GIOTTO'S CAMPANILE AT FLORENCE.
 II. 
II. OLD PICTURES AT FLORENCE.
 III. 
III. ON A PICTURE BY COREGGIO AT PARMA.
 IV. 
IV. COREGGIO'S CUPOLAS AT PARMA.
 V. 
V. TO ITALY.
 VI. 
VI. GENOA.
 VII. 
VII. A PICTURE BY ANDREA DEL SARTO, IN THE CATHEDRAL OF PISA.
 VIII. 
VIII. THE RENAISSANCE, AND SAVONAROLA.—1.
 IX. 
IX. THE RENAISSANCE, AND SAVONAROLA.—2.
 X. 
X. FRESCOES BY MASACCIO, AT FLORENCE.
 XI. 
XI. SAINTS BY PIETRO PERUGINO.
 XII. 
XII. PICTURE OF A SAINT.
 XIII. 
XIII. A NIGHT ON THE GENOESE RIVIERA.
 XIV. 
XIV. BOCCACCIO AND CERTALDO.
 XV. 
XV. THE CAMPO SANTO AT PISA.—1.
 XVI. 
XVI. THE CAMPO SANTO AT PISA.—2.
 XVII. 
XVII. TASSO'S HOUSE AT SORRENTO.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. CASTELAMARE.
 XIX. 
XIX. A MORNING AT SALERNO.
 XX. 
XX. TO NAPLES.
 XXI. 
XXI. THE SIBYL'S CAVE AT CUMA.
 XXII. 
XXII. THE RUINS OF CORNELIA'S HOUSE AT BAIA.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. VENICE BY DAY.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. VENICE IN THE EVENING.
 XXV. 
XXV. LEONARDO'S ‘LAST SUPPER’ AT MILAN.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. THE CHURCH OF ST. AMBROSE AT MILAN.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. THE STATUE OF ST. CARLO BORROMEO AT ARONA.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. THE MILANESE SCHOOL.
 XXIX. 
XXIX. THE CATHEDRAL OF MILAN.
 XXX. 
XXX. BYZANTINE MOSAICS AT RAVENNA.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. TO A MOUNTAIN IN SWITZERLAND.—1.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. TO A MOUNTAIN IN SWITZERLAND.—2.
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII. TO A MOUNTAIN IN SWITZERLAND.—3.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. THE CHAPEL OF TELL ON THE LAKE LUCERNE.
 XXXV. 
XXXV. THE LAKE OF LUCERNE.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. THE MOUNTAIN MUSE.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. THE BLUE GENTIAN.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. THE MOUNTAIN LANGUAGE.
 XL. 
XL. A TYROLESE VILLAGE.
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MISCELLANEOUS SONNETS.
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VOL. II.
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VOL. III.
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VOL. IV.
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VOL. V.
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VOL. VI. LEGENDS AND RECORDS OF THE CHURCH AND THE EMPIRE

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XLV. NATIONAL STRENGTH.

What is it makes a Nation truly great?
Her sons; her sons alone; not theirs, but they:
Glory and gold are vile as wind and clay
Unless the hands that grasp them, consecrate.
And what is that in man by which a State
Is clad in splendour like the noontide day?
Virtue: Dominion ebbs, and Arts betray;
Virtue alone endures. But what is that
Which Virtue's self doth rest on; that which yields her
Light for her feet, and daily, heavenly bread;
Which from demoniac pride, and madness shields her,
And storms that most assail the loftiest head?
156

The Christian's humble faith; that faith which cheers
The orphan's quivering heart and stays the widow's tears.
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