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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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POEMS ON THE NAMING OF PLACES.
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POEMS OF THE FANCY.
 I. 
I. A MORNING EXERCISE.
 II. 
II. A FLOWER GARDEN.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV. THE WATERFALL AND THE EGLANTINE.
 V. 
V. THE OAK AND THE BROOM.
 VI. 
VI. TO A SEXTON.
 VII. 
VII. TO THE DAISY.
 VIII. 
VIII. TO THE SAME FLOWER.
 IX. 
IX. THE GREEN LINNET.
 X. 
X. TO A SKY-LARK.
 XI. 
XI. TO THE SMALL CELANDINE .
 XII. 
XII. TO THE SAME FLOWER.
 XIII. 
XIII. THE SEVEN SISTERS;
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV. THE REDBREAST CHASING THE BUTTERFLY.
 XVI. 
XVI. SONG FOR THE SPINNING WHEEL.
 XVII. 
XVII. HINT FROM THE MOUNTAINS
 XVIII. 
XVIII. ON SEEING A NEEDLECASE IN THE FORM OF A HARP.
 XIX. 
XIX. TO A LADY, IN ANSWER TO A REQUEST THAT I WOULD WRITE HER A POEM UPON SOME DRAWINGS THAT SHE HAD MADE OF FLOWERS IN THE ISLAND OF MADEIRA.
 XX. 
XX.
 XXI. 
XXI. THE CONTRAST.
 XXII. 
XXII. THE DANISH BOY.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. SONG FOR THE WANDERING JEW.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. STRAY PLEASURES.
 XXV. 
XXV. THE PILGRIM'S DREAM;
 XXVI. 
XXVI. THE POET AND THE CAGED TURTLEDOVE.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. A WREN'S NEST.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. LOVE LIES BLEEDING.
 XXIX. 
XXIX. COMPANION TO THE FOREGOING.
 XXX. 
XXX. RURAL ILLUSIONS.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. THE KITTEN AND FALLING LEAVES.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. ADDRESS TO MY INFANT DAUGHTER, DORA,
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XXXIII. THE WAGGONER.
 1. 
CANTO FIRST.
 2. 
CANTO SECOND.
 3. 
CANTO THIRD.
 4. 
CANTO FOURTH.
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POEMS OF THE IMAGINATION.
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MISCELLANEOUS SONNETS.
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VOL. III.
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VOL. IV.
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VOL. V.
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[volume]

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XXI.

[When haughty expectations prostrate lie]

When haughty expectations prostrate lie,
And grandeur crouches like a guilty thing,
Oft shall the lowly weak, till nature bring
Mature release, in fair society
Survive, and Fortune's utmost anger try;
Like these frail snow-drops that together cling,
And nod their helmets, smitten by the wing
Of many a furious whirl-blast sweeping by.
Observe the faithful flowers! if small to great
May lead the thoughts, thus struggling used to stand
The Emathian phalanx, nobly obstinate;
And so the bright immortal Theban band,
Whom onset, fiercely urged at Jove's command
Might overwhelm, but could not separate!
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