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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.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III. CISTERTIAN MONASTERY.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V. MONKS AND SCHOOLMEN.
 VI. 
VI. OTHER BENEFITS.
 VII. 
VII. OTHER BENEFITS: CONTINUED.
 VIII. 
VIII. CRUSADERS.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI. TRANSUBSTANTIATION.
 XII. 
XII. THE VAUDOIS.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV. WALDENSES.
 XV. 
XV. ARCHBISHOP CHICHELY TO HENRY V.
 XVI. 
XVI. WARS OF YORK AND LANCASTER.
 XVII. 
XVII. WICLIFFE.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. CORRUPTIONS OF THE HIGHER CLERGY.
 XIX. 
XIX. ABUSE OF MONASTIC POWER.
 XX. 
XX. MONASTIC VOLUPTUOUSNESS.
 XXI. 
XXI. DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES.
 XXII. 
XXII. THE SAME SUBJECT. [DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES.]
 XXIII. 
XXIII. [DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES]: CONTINUED.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. SAINTS.
 XXV. 
XXV. THE VIRGIN.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. APOLOGY.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. IMAGINATIVE REGRETS.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. REFLECTIONS.
 XXIX. 
XXIX. TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE.
 XXX. 
XXX. THE POINT AT ISSUE.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. EDWARD VI.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. EDWARD SIGNING THE WARRANT FOR THE EXECUTION OF JOAN OF KENT.
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII. REVIVAL OF POPERY.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. LATIMER AND RIDLEY.
 XXXV. 
XXXV. CRANMER.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. GENERAL VIEW OF THE TROUBLES OF THE REFORMATION.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. ENGLISH REFORMERS IN EXILE.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. ELIZABETH.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. EMINENT REFORMERS.
 XL. 
XL. THE SAME. [EMINENT REFORMERS.]
 XLI. 
XLI. DISTRACTIONS.
 XLII. 
XLII. GUNPOWDER PLOT.
 XLIII. 
XLIII. THE JUNG-FRAU AND THE FALL OF THE RHINE NEAR SCHAFFHAUSEN.
 XLIV. 
XLIV. TROUBLES OF CHARLES THE FIRST.
 XLV. 
XLV. LAUD .
 XLVI. 
XLVI. AFFLICTIONS OF ENGLAND.
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PART III. FROM THE RESTORATION TO THE PRESENT TIMES.
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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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I.

[Though the bold wings of Poesy affect]

Though the bold wings of Poesy affect
The clouds, and wheel around the mountain tops
Rejoicing, from her loftiest height she drops
Well pleased to skim the plain with wild flowers deckt,
Or muse in solemn grove whose shades protect
The lingering dew—there steals along, or stops
Watching the least small bird that round her hops,
Or creeping worm, with sensitive respect.
Her functions are they therefore less divine,
Her thoughts less deep, or void of grave intent
Her simplest fancies? Should that fear be thine,
Aspiring Votary, ere thy hand present
One offering, kneel before her modest shrine,
With brow in penitential sorrow bent!
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