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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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VIII.

[She was a Phantom of delight]

She was a Phantom of delight
When first she gleamed upon my sight;
A lovely Apparition, sent
To be a moment's ornament;
Her eyes as stars of Twilight fair;
Like Twilight's, too, her dusky hair;
But all things else about her drawn
From May-time and the cheerful Dawn;
A dancing Shape, an Image gay,
To haunt, to startle, and way-lay.
I saw her upon nearer view,
A Spirit, yet a Woman too!
Her household motions light and free,
And steps of virgin-liberty;
A countenance in which did meet
Sweet records, promises as sweet;
A Creature not too bright or good
For human nature's daily food;
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.
101

And now I see with eye serene
The very pulse of the machine;
A Being breathing thoughtful breath,
A Traveller between life and death;
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;
A perfect Woman, nobly planned,
To warn, to comfort, and command;
And yet a Spirit still, and bright
With something of angelic light.
1804.
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