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The poetical works of William Wordsworth

... In six volumes ... A new edition
Wordsworth, William (1770-1850)

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VOL. I.
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VOL. II.
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VOL. III.
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VOL. IV.
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THE WHITE DOE OF RYLSTONE;
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ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS.
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PART I. FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY INTO BRITAIN, TO THE CONSUMMATION OF THE PAPAL DOMINION.
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PART II. TO THE CLOSE OF THE TROUBLES IN THE REIGN OF CHARLES I.
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PART III. FROM THE RESTORATION TO THE PRESENT TIMES.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II. PATRIOTIC SYMPATHIES.
 III. 
III. CHARLES THE SECOND.
 IV. 
IV. LATITUDINARIANISM.
 V. 
V. WALTON'S BOOK OF LIVES.
 VI. 
VI. CLERICAL INTEGRITY.
 VII. 
VII. PERSECUTION OF THE SCOTTISH COVENANTERS.
 VIII. 
VIII. ACQUITTAL OF THE BISHOPS.
 IX. 
IX. WILLIAM THE THIRD.
 X. 
X. OBLIGATIONS OF CIVIL TO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
 XI. 
XI. SACHEVEREL.
 XII. 
XII.
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ASPECTS OF CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII. PLACES OF WORSHIP.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. PASTORAL CHARACTER.
 XIX. 
XIX. THE LITURGY.
 XX. 
XX. BAPTISM.
 XXI. 
XXI. SPONSORS.
 XXII. 
XXII. CATECHISING.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. CONFIRMATION.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. CONFIRMATION CONTINUED.
 XXV. 
XXV. SACRAMENT.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. THANKSGIVING AFTER CHILDBIRTH.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. VISITATION OF THE SICK.
 XXIX. 
XXIX. THE COMMINATION SERVICE.
 XXX. 
XXX. FORMS OF PRAYER AT SEA.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. FUNERAL SERVICE.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. RURAL CEREMONY .
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII. REGRETS.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. MUTABILITY.
 XXXV. 
XXXV. OLD ABBEYS.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. EMIGRANT FRENCH CLERGY.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. CONGRATULATION.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. NEW CHURCHES.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. CHURCH TO BE ERECTED.
 XL. 
XL. [CHURCH TO BE ERECTED.] CONTINUED.
 XLI. 
XLI. NEW CHURCH-YARD.
 XLII. 
XLII. CATHEDRALS, ETC.
 XLIII. 
XLIII. INSIDE OF KING'S COLLEGE CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE.
 XLIV. 
XLIV. THE SAME. [INSIDE OF KING'S COLLEGE CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE.]
 XLV. 
XLV. [INSIDE OF KING'S COLLEGE CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE.]: CONTINUED.
 XLVI. 
XLVI. EJACULATION.
  
XLVII. CONCLUSION.
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EVENING VOLUNTARIES.
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POEMS, COMPOSED OR SUGGESTED DURING A TOUR, IN THE SUMMER OF 1833.
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POEMS OF SENTIMENT AND REFLECTION.
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SONNETS DEDICATED TO LIBERTY AND ORDER.
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SONNETS UPON THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.
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VOL. V.
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[volume]

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55

XXVI. THE POET AND THE CAGED TURTLEDOVE.

As often as I murmur here
My half-formed melodies,
Straight from her osier mansion near,
The Turtledove replies:
Though silent as a leaf before,
The captive promptly coos;
Is it to teach her own soft lore,
Or second my weak Muse?
I rather think, the gentle Dove
Is murmuring a reproof,
Displeased that I from lays of love
Have dared to keep aloof;
That I, a Bard of hill and dale,
Have carolled, fancy free,
As if nor dove nor nightingale,
Had heart or voice for me.
If such thy meaning, O forbear,
Sweet Bird! to do me wrong;
Love, blessed Love, is every where
The spirit of my song:
'Mid grove, and by the calm fireside,
Love animates my lyre—
That coo again!—'tis not to chide,
I feel, but to inspire.
1830.
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