The bird and the bell, with other poems

Cranch, Christopher Pearse (1813-1892)

[section]

[As one who in some cellar crypt has kept]

THE BIRD AND THE BELL

[prologue]

II.

III.

IV.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XV.

XVI.

XVII.

XVIII.

XIX.

XX.

XXI.

XXII.

XXIII.

XXIV.

XXV.

XXVI.

XXVII.

XXVIII.

XVIII.

XXIX.

XXX.

XXXI.

XXXII.

XXXIII.

XXXIV.

XXXV.

XXXVI.

XXXVII.

XXXVIII.

XXXIX.

XL.

XLI.

XLII.

XLIII.

XLIV.

XLV.

XLVI.

XLVII.

XLVIII.

XLIX.

LI.

LII.

LIII.

LIV.

LV.

LVI.

LVII.

LVIII.

LIX.

LX.

LXI.

LXII.

LXIII.

LXIV.

LXV.

THE THREE MUSES.

THE SHADOWED RIVER.

NOVEMBER TREES.

THE FLOWER AND THE BEE.

THE CATARACT ISLE.

IN THE GARDEN.

IN THE PINE WOODS.

LUNA THROUGH A LORGNETTE.

IN THE PALAIS ROYAL GARDEN.

THE OLD DAYS AND THE NEW.

WHY!

II.

THROUGH THE FIELDS TO ST. PETER'S.

MARION DALE.

VEILS.

THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.

SOFT, BROWN, SMILING EYES.

THE DREAM OF PILATE'S WIFE.

THE DISPUTE OF THE SEVEN DAYS.

A THRUSH IN A GILDED CAGE.

UNDER THE SKYLIGHT.

I IN THEE, AND THOU IN ME.

TO THE MEMORY OF MARGARET FULLER OSSOLI.

THE WORKSHOP AND THE BRONZE.

THE EVENING PRIMROSE.

BY THE SHORE OF THE RIVER.

THE AMERICAN PANTHEON.

IN THE FOREST OF FONTAINEBLEAU.

TO A HALF-FRIEND.

A BATTLE OF THE ELEMENTS.

MEMORIAL HALL.

DREAM-LIFE.

THE CENTURY AND THE NATION.

THE LAY OF THRYM; OR, THE HAMMER RECOVERED.

MICHAEL ANGELO BUONAROTTI.

ON RE-READING TENNYSON'S PRINCESS.

THE GARDEN (CONTINUED).

TO G. W. C.

TO W. W. S.

TO O. B. F.

TO O. B. F. (CONTINUED.)

YOUTH AND AGE.

POEMS OF THE WAR.

THE BURIAL OF THE FLAG.

THE ROSE OF DEATH.

NOVEMBER 8TH, 1864.

SONNETS FOR THE TIMES.

I. THE DARK TOWER.

II. DELIVERANCE.

III. THE ABOLITIONISTS.

IV. THE DAWN OF PEACE.

V. THE DEATH-BLOW.

VI. THE MARTYR.

VII. OUR COUNTRY.

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231

TO A HALF-FRIEND.

How well I know the secret spell to turn
Your best good-will to me,—
The delicate untruth could I but learn
Of well-bred flattery.

Just to o'erstep the plain sincerity
Of friend to friend, no more;
Only to hint, “Your truth is truth to me,
No higher and no lower”;

Seeming to prize your quality and gift,
Though not on praise intent,
But on the current of our talk to drift
Into a smooth assent;

232

To accept without demur or differing eyes
The half-truth of your thought,
And hide my protest in a compromise
By dumb good-nature taught;

To linger on your chosen plot of ground,
As if I too would choose it;
To know a richer realm lies all around
Your fence, and yet refuse it;

To fear to disagree, though what you say
Savors of sect and clan;
My fortress of conviction to betray
And yield life's cherished plan;

To slight the solemn conscience pressing down
Upon my private faith;
To wear the decorous fashion of the town;
To hear some shadowy wraith,

Instead of what I know to be myself,
Utter opinions squared
To social rules,—a poor, unreal elf
Consenting to be snared,

233

And playing out a graceful pantomime
Where earnest words are naught,
To catch the easy plaudits of the time,
But hide my dearest thought;—

Thus might I win you soon to be my friend,
Now half a friend at best.
Yet none would say I flattered. I but send
Some fractious thoughts to rest.

University of Virginia Library

TO A HALF-FRIEND.