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The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe

with his letters and journals, and his life, by his son. In eight volumes
Crabbe, George (1754-1832)

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VOL. I. [LIFE OF CRABBE.]
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[CHAPTER I.]
  
[“But it was misery stung me in the day]
  
[“Sweet was the morning's breath, the inland tide]
  
[—“I to the ocean gave]
  
[“But, above all, the poet owns thy powers—]
  
[“My days, oh ye lovers, were happily sped]
  
“THE WISH.
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[CHAPTER II.]
  
[“If once induced these cordial sips to try]
  
[“Ah! blest be the days when with Mira I took]
  
[“The hour arrived! I sigh'd and said]
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CHAPTER III.
  
[“When summer's tribe, her rosy tribe, are fled]
  
[“Of substance I've thought, and the varied disputes]
  
[“Who thus aspiring sings? would'st thou explore]
  
[“Like some poor bark on the rough ocean tost]
  
“To the Right Honourable the Earl of Shelburne.
  
“An Epistle to a Friend.
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[CHAPTER IX.]
  
[“Yes, I behold again the place]
  
[“The ring so worn, as you behold]
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[CHAPTER X.]
  
[“Though I look old, yet am I strong and lusty]
  
[“Unhappy is the wretch who feels]
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VOL. II.
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POEMS.
  
[dedication]
  
THE LIBRARY.
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THE VILLAGE.
 I. 
BOOK I.
 II. 
BOOK II.
  
THE NEWSPAPER.
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THE PARISH REGISTER.
 I. 
PART I. BAPTISMS.
 II. 
PART II. MARRIAGES.
 III. 
PART III. BURIALS.
  
THE BIRTH OF FLATTERY.
  
REFLECTIONS
  
SIR EUSTACE GREY.
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THE HALL OF JUSTICE.
 I. 
PART I.
 II. 
PART II.
  
WOMAN!
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APPENDIX.
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No. I.
  
INEBRIETY; A POEM.
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No. II. FRAGMENTS OF VERSE FROM MR. CRABBE'S EARLY NOTE-BOOKS.
  
YE GENTLE GALES.
  
MIRA.
  
HYMN.
  
THE WISH.
  
THE COMPARISON.
  
GOLDSMITH TO THE AUTHOR.
  
FRAGMENT.
  
THE RESURRECTION.
  
MY BIRTH-DAY
  
TO ELIZA.
  
LIFE.
  
THE SACRAMENT.
  
NIGHT.
  
FRAGMENT, WRITTEN AT MIDNIGHT.
  
TIME.
  
THE CHOICE.
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No. III. THE CANDIDATE;
  
AN INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS OF THE AUTHOR TO HIS POEMS.
  
TO THE AUTHORS OF THE MONTHLY REVIEW.
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VOL. III., VOL. IV., VOL. V.
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THE BOROUGH.
  
[dedication]
 I. 
LETTER I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
 II. 
LETTER II. THE CHURCH.
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LETTER III. THE VICAR—THE CURATE, ETC.
  
[THE VICAR.]
  
THE CURATE.
 IV. 
LETTER IV. SECTS AND PROFESSIONS IN RELIGION.
 V. 
LETTER V. ELECTIONS.
 VI. 
LETTER VI. PROFESSIONS—LAW.
 VII. 
LETTER VII. PROFESSIONS—PHYSIC.
 VIII. 
LETTER VIII. TRADES.
 IX. 
LETTER IX. AMUSEMENTS.
 X. 
LETTER X. CLUBS AND SOCIAL MEETINGS.
 XI. 
LETTER XI. INNS.
 XII. 
LETTER XII. PLAYERS.
 XIII. 
LETTER XIII. THE ALMS-HOUSE AND TRUSTEES.
 XIV. 
LETTER XIV. INHABITANTS OF THE ALMS-HOUSE. BLANEY.
 XV. 
LETTER XV. INHABITANTS OF THE ALMS-HOUSE. CLELIA.
 XVI. 
LETTER XVI. INHABITANTS OF THE ALMS-HOUSE. BENBOW.
 XVII. 
LETTER XVII. THE HOSPITAL AND GOVERNORS.
 XVIII. 
LETTER XVIII. THE POOR AND THEIR DWELLINGS.
 XIX. 
LETTER XIX. THE POOR OF THE BOROUGH. THE PARISH-CLERK.
 XX. 
LETTER XX. THE POOR OF THE BOROUGH. ELLEN ORFORD.
 XXI. 
LETTER XXI. THE POOR OF THE BOROUGH. ABEL KEENE.
 XXII. 
LETTER XXII. THE POOR OF THE BOROUGH. PETER GRIMES.
 XXIII. 
LETTER XXIII. PRISONS.
 XXIV. 
LETTER XXIV. SCHOOLS.
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OCCASIONAL PIECES.
  
THE LADIES OF THE LAKE.
  
INFANCY—A FRAGMENT.
  
THE MAGNET.
  
STORM AND CALM.
  
SATIRE.
  
BELVOIR CASTLE.
  
THE WORLD OF DREAMS.
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TALES.
  
[dedication]
 I. 
TALE I. THE DUMB ORATORS;
 II. 
TALE II. THE PARTING HOUR.
 III. 
TALE III. THE GENTLEMAN FARMER.
 IV. 
TALE IV. PROCRASTINATION.
 V. 
TALE V. THE PATRON.
 VI. 
TALE VI. THE FRANK COURTSHIP.
 VII. 
TALE VII. THE WIDOW'S TALE
 VIII. 
TALE VIII. THE MOTHER.
 IX. 
TALE IX. ARABELLA.
 X. 
TALE X. THE LOVER'S JOURNEY.
 XI. 
TALE XI. EDWARD SHORE.
 XII. 
TALE XII. 'SQUIRE THOMAS;
 XIII. 
TALE XIII. JESSE AND COLIN.
 XIV. 
TALE XIV. THE STRUGGLES OF CONSCIENCE.
 XV. 
TALE XV. ADVICE;
 XVI. 
TALE XVI. THE CONFIDANT.
 XVII. 
TALE XVII. RESENTMENT.
 XVIII. 
TALE XVIII. THE WAGER.
 XIX. 
TALE XIX. THE CONVERT.
 XX. 
TALE XX. THE BROTHERS.
 XXI. 
TALE XXI. THE LEARNED BOY.
  
FLIRTATION,
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OCCASIONAL PIECES.
  
LINES IN LAURA'S ALBUM.
  
LINES WRITTEN AT WARWICK.
  
ON A DRAWING OF THE ELM TREE,
  
ON RECEIVING FROM A LADY A PRESENT OF A RING.
  
TO A LADY, WITH SOME POETICAL EXTRACTS.
  
TO A LADY ON LEAVING HER AT SIDMOUTH.
  
TO SARAH, COUNTESS OF JERSEY, ON HER BIRTHDAY.
  
TO A LADY WHO DESIRED SOME VERSES AT PARTING.
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VOL. VI., VOL. VII.
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TALES OF THE HALL.
 I. 
BOOK I. THE HALL.
 II. 
BOOK II. THE BROTHERS.
 III. 
BOOK III. BOYS AT SCHOOL.
 IV. 
BOOK IV. ADVENTURES OF RICHARD.
 V. 
BOOK V. RUTH
 VI. 
BOOK VI. ADVENTURES OF RICHARD CONCLUDED.
 VII. 
BOOK VII. THE ELDER BROTHER.
 VIII. 
BOOK VIII. THE SISTERS.
 IX. 
BOOK IX. THE PRECEPTOR HUSBAND.
 X. 
BOOK X. THE OLD BACHELOR.
 XI. 
BOOK XI. THE MAID'S STORY.
 XII. 
BOOK XII. SIR OWEN DALE.
 XIII. 
BOOK XIII. DELAY HAS DANGER.
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BOOK XIV. THE NATURAL DEATH OF LOVE.
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
HENRY AND EMMA.
 XV. 
BOOK XV. GRETNA GREEN.
 XVI. 
BOOK XVI. LADY BARBARA; OR, THE GHOST.
 XVII. 
BOOK XVII. THE WIDOW.
 XVIII. 
BOOK XVIII. ELLEN.
 XIX. 
BOOK XIX. WILLIAM BAILEY.
 XX. 
BOOK XX THE CATHEDRAL-WALK.
 XXI. 
BOOK XXI. SMUGGLERS AND POACHERS.
 XXII. 
BOOK XXII. THE VISIT CONCLUDED.
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VOL. VIII.
  
[dedication]
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POSTHUMOUS TALES.
 I. 
TALE I. SILFORD HALL; OR, THE HAPPY DAY.
 II. 
TALE II. THE FAMILY OF LOVE.
 III. 
TALE III. THE EQUAL MARRIAGE.
 IV. 
TALE IV. RACHEL.
 V. 
TALE V. VILLARS
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TALE VI. THE FAREWELL AND RETURN.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TALE VII. THE SCHOOL-FELLOW.
 I. 
I
 II. 
II.
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TALE VIII. BARNABY; THE SHOPMAN.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TALE IX. JANE.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TALE X. THE ANCIENT MANSION.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TALE XI. THE MERCHANT.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TALE XII. THE BROTHER BURGESSES.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TALE XIII. THE DEAN'S LADY.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TALE XIV. THE WIFE AND WIDOW.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TALE XV. BELINDA WATERS.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TALE XVI. THE DEALER AND CLERK.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
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TALE XVII. DANVERS AND RAYNER.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II
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TALE XVIII. THE BOAT RACE.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TALE XIX. MASTER WILLIAM.
 I. 
I
 II. 
II.
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TALE XX. THE WILL.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TALE XXI. THE COUSINS.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TALE XXII. PREACHING AND PRACTICE.
 I. 
I.

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99

THE LADIES OF THE LAKE.

WRITTEN ON VISITING NORMANSTON IN THE YEAR 1785.

Shall I, who oft have woo'd the Muse
For gentle Ladies' sake,
So fair a theme as this refuse—
The Ladies of the Lake?
100

Hail, happy pair! 't is yours to share
Life's elegance and ease;
The bliss of wealth without the care,
The will and power to please,—
To please, but not alone our eyes,
Nor yet alone our mind;
Your taste, your goodness, charm the wise—
Your manners all mankind.
The pleasant scenes that round you glow,
Like caskets fraught with gold,
Though beauteous in themselves, yet owe
Their worth to what they hold.
Trees may be found, and lakes, as fair;
Fresh lawns, and gardens green;
But where again the Sister-pair
Who animate the scene?
Where sense of that superior kind,
Without man's haughty air?
And where, without the trifling mind,
The softness of the fair?
Folly, with wealth, may idly raise
Her hopes to shine like you,
And humble flattery sound her praise,
Till she believes it true;
But wealth no more can give that grace
To souls of meaner kind,
Than summer's fiery sun can chase
Their darkness from the blind.
101

But drop, you'll say, the useless pen:
Reluctant—I obey,
Yet let me take it once again,
If not to praise, to pray
That you, with partial grace, may deign
This poor attempt to take,
And I may oft behold again
The Ladies of the Lake.
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