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Poems (1895)

Wade, Thomas (1805-1875)

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TO CERTAIN “CRITICS.”
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FIFTY SONNETS BY THOMAS WADE.
 I. 
I. BIRTH AND DEATH.
 II. 
II. WHO MAY SAY?
 III. 
III. THE NEAR ADVENT.
 IV. 
IV. A WARNING.
 V. 
V. THE CHILD.
 VI. 
VI. TO MY CHILD.
 VII. 
VII. THE FEAR.
 VIII. 
VIII. THE ENTREATY.
 IX. 
IX. THE RETURN.
 X. 
X. THE BARRIER-BOND.
 XI. 
XI. HIGH-SPEAKINGS.
 XII. 
XII. THE FIRST DAY OF THE FOURTH YEAR.
 XIII. 
XIII. TO BABY.
 XIV. 
XIV. THE RESULT.
 XV. 
XV.
 XXV. 
XXV. ON HEARING SOME FINE MUSIC ILL-PLAYED.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. THE FACE.—I.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. THE FACE.—II.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. POETRY AND SCIENCE.
 XXIX. 
XXIX. COMPANIONSHIP.
 XXX. 
XXX. THE FALLERS-SHORT.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. THE SWAN.
 XXXII. 
XXXII.
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. THE “POETRY OF EARTH.”
 XXXV. 
XXXV. THE SERE OAK LEAVES.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. THE SWAN-AVIARY.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. SPIRIT SOLACE.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. DECEMBER—MAY.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. THE SUN AND THE DAISY.
 XL. 
XL. THE ACCOMPANIMENT.
 XLI. 
XLI. THE CRUCIFIXION.
 XLII. 
XLII. THE MAN-“GOD.”
 XLIII. 
XLIII. TRACES.
 XLIV-XLV. 
XLIV.—XLV. BEETHOVEN'S “SONATA WITH THE FUNERAL MARCH.”
 XLVI. 
XLVI. CHRISTMAS 1866.
 XLVII. 
XLVII. WRITTEN AFTER HEARING GREAT MUSIC.
 XLVIII. 
XLVIII. WRITTEN AFTER HAVING RECEIVED A PRESENT OF FLOWERS.
 XLIX. 
XLIX. A TRIBUTE TO THE PRESENT, AND A REMINISCENCE OF THE FAR PAST.
 L. 
L. TO THE PIANOFORTE.
  
THE CONTENTION OF DEATH AND LOVE.
  
[note]
  
HELENA.

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95

XXV. ON HEARING SOME FINE MUSIC ILL-PLAYED.

Not in the noting, or the instrument
Fine Music's sweet sufficiency doth live;
But in the sight and touch executive
Of harmony's soul-active president,
Learn'd, and instinctive to her element.
How dull is Poesy which, read, doth give
Naught of its meanings clear-exempletive—
The poet lost, the reader evident!
I have heard Spenser, Shakspeare, and sage Ben,
Made Sternhold, Hopkins, Watts, by mouths ungifted,
Which spake untutor'd by the heart and brain:
And thus it is how Weber, Beethoven,
Whom hearing, I have been to heaven lifted,
Now steep me in a discord-hell of pain.
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