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The writings of James Russell Lowell

in ten volumes
Lowell, James Russell (1819-1891)

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POEMS I.
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EARLIER POEMS
  
THRENODIA
  
THE SIRENS
  
IRENÉ
  
SERENADE
  
WITH A PRESSED FLOWER
  
THE BEGGAR
  
MY LOVE
  
SUMMER STORM
  
LOVE
  
TO PERDITA, SINGING
  
THE MOON
  
REMEMBERED MUSIC
  
SONG
  
ALLEGRA
  
THE FOUNTAIN
  
ODE
  
THE FATHERLAND
  
THE FORLORN
  
MIDNIGHT
  
A PRAYER
  
THE HERITAGE
  
THE ROSE: A BALLAD
  
SONG
  
ROSALINE
  
A REQUIEM
  
A PARABLE
  
SONG
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SONNETS
 1. 
I. TO A. C. L.
 2. 
[II. What were I, Love, if I were stripped of thee]
 3. 
[III. I would not have this perfect love of ours]
 4. 
[IV. “For this true nobleness I seek in vain]
 5. 
V. TO THE SPIRIT OF KEATS.
 6. 
[VI. Great Truths are portions of the soul of man]
 7. 
[VII. I ask not for those thoughts, that sudden leap]
 8. 
VIII. TO M. W., ON HER BIRTHDAY.
 9. 
[IX. My Love, I have no fear that thou shouldst die]
 10. 
[X. I cannot think that thou shouldst pass away]
 11. 
[XI. There never yet was flower fair in vain]
 12. 
XII. SUB PONDERE CRESCIT.
 13. 
[XIII. Beloved, in the noisy city here]
 14. 
XIV. ON READING WORDSWORTH'S SONNETS IN DEFENCE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
 15. 
XV. THE SAME CONTINUED.
 16. 
XVI. THE SAME CONTINUED.
 17. 
XVII. THE SAME CONTINUED.
 18. 
XVIII. THE SAME CONTINUED.
 19. 
XIX. THE SAME CONCLUDED.
 20. 
XX. TO M. O. S.
 21. 
[XXI. Our love is not a fading, earthly flower]
 22. 
XXII. IN ABSENCE.
 23. 
XXIII. WENDELL PHILLIPS.
 24. 
XXIV. THE STREET.
 25. 
[XXV. I grieve not that ripe Knowledge takes away]
 26. 
XXVI. TO J. R. GIDDINGS.
 27. 
[XXVII. I thought our love at full, but I did err]
  
L'ENVOI
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MISCELLANEOUS POEMS
  
A LEGEND OF BRITTANY
  
PROMETHEUS
  
THE SHEPHERD OF KING ADMETUS
  
THE TOKEN
  
AN INCIDENT IN A RAILROAD CAR
  
RHŒCUS
  
THE FALCON
  
TRIAL
  
A GLANCE BEHIND THE CURTAIN
  
A CHIPPEWA LEGEND
  
STANZAS ON FREEDOM
  
COLUMBUS
  
AN INCIDENT OF THE FIRE AT HAMBURG
  
THE SOWER
  
HUNGER AND COLD
  
THE LANDLORD
  
TO A PINE-TREE
  
SI DESCENDERO IN INFERNUM, ADES
  
TO THE PAST
  
TO THE FUTURE
  
HEBE
  
THE SEARCH
  
THE PRESENT CRISIS
  
AN INDIAN-SUMMER REVERIE
  
THE GROWTH OF THE LEGEND
  
A CONTRAST
  
EXTREME UNCTION
  
THE OAK
  
AMBROSE
  
ABOVE AND BELOW
  
THE CAPTIVE
  
THE BIRCH-TREE
  
AN INTERVIEW WITH MILES STANDISH
  
ON THE CAPTURE OF FUGITIVE SLAVES NEAR WASHINGTON
  
TO THE DANDELION
  
THE GHOST-SEER
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STUDIES FOR TWO HEADS
 1. 
I.
 2. 
II.
  
ON A PORTRAIT OF DANTE BY GIOTTO
  
ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND'S CHILD
  
EURYDICE
  
SHE CAME AND WENT
  
THE CHANGELING
  
THE PIONEER
  
LONGING
  
ODE TO FRANCE
  
ANTI-APIS
  
A PARABLE
  
ODE
  
LINES
  
TO ---
  
FREEDOM
  
BIBLIOLATRES
  
BEAVER BROOK
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MEMORIAL VERSES
  
KOSSUTH
  
TO LAMARTINE
  
TO JOHN G. PALFREY
  
TO W. L. GARRISON
  
ON THE DEATH OF C. T. TORREY
  
ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF DR. CHANNING
  
TO THE MEMORY OF HOOD
  
THE VISION OF SIR LAUNFAL
  
LETTER FROM BOSTON
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POEMS II.
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THE BIGLOW PAPERS
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NOTICES OF AN INDEPENDENT PRESS
  
The Courtin'.
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INTRODUCTION.
  
[Propped on the marsh, a dwelling now, I see]
  
[Old Joe is gone, who saw hot Percy goad]
  
THE TWO GUNNERS
  
LEAVING THE MATTER OPEN
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FIRST SERIES
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No. I. A LETTER FROM MR. EZEKIEL BIGLOW OF JAALAM TO THE HON. JOSEPH T. BUCKINGHAM
  
[Thrash away, you'll hev to rattle]
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No. II. A LETTER FROM MR. HOSEA BIGLOW TO THE HON. J. T. BUCKINGHAM, EDITOR OF THE BOSTON COURIER, COVERING A LETTER FROM MR. B. SAWIN, PRIVATE IN THE MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT.
  
[This kind o' sogerin' aint a mite like our October trainin']
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No. III. WHAT MR. ROBINSON THINKS
  
[Guvener B. is a sensible man]
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No. IV. REMARKS OF INCREASE D. O'PHACE ESQ.
  
[No? Hez he? He haint, though? Wut? Voted agin him]
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No. V. THE DEBATE IN THE SENNIT
  
[“Here we stan' on the Constitution, by thunder]
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No. VI. THE PIOUS EDITOR'S CREED
  
[I du believe in Freedom's cause]
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No. VII. A LETTER FROM A CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY IN ANSWER TO SUTTIN QUESTIONS PROPOSED BY MR. HOSEA BIGLOW
  
[Dear Sir,—You wish to know my notions]
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No. VIII. A SECOND LETTER FROM B. SAWIN, ESQ.
  
[I spose you wonder ware I be; I can't tell, fer the soul o' me]
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No. IX. A THIRD LETTER FROM B. SAWIN, ESQ.
  
[I spose you recollect thet I explained my gennle views]
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SECOND SERIES
  
THE COURTIN'
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No. I. BIRDOFREDUM SAWIN, ESQ., TO MR. HOSEA BIGLOW
  
[It's some consid'ble of a spell sence I hain't writ no letters]
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No. II. MASON AND SLIDELL: A YANKEE IDYLL
  
[But nowadays the Bridge ain't wut they show]
  
[I love to start out arter night's begun]
  
JONATHAN TO JOHN
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No. III. BIRDOFREDUM SAWIN, ESQ., TO MR. HOSEA BIGLOW
  
[I hed it on my min' las' time, when I to write ye started]
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No. IV. A MESSAGE OF JEFF DAVIS IN SECRET SESSION
  
FESTINA LENTE.
  
[I sent you a messige, my friens, t' other day]
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No. V. SPEECH OF HONOURABLE PRESERVED DOE IN SECRET CAUCUS
  
[I thank ye, my frien's, for the warmth o' your greetin']
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No. VI. SUNTHIN' IN THE PASTORAL LINE
  
[Once git a smell o' musk into a draw]
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No. VII. LATEST VIEWS OF MR. BIGLOW
  
[Ef I a song or two could make]
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No. VIII.
  
KETTELOPOTOMACHIA
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No. X. MR. HOSEA BIGLOW TO THE EDITOR OF THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY
  
[Dear Sir,—Your letter come to han']
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No. XI. MR. HOSEA BIGLOW'S SPEECH IN MARCH MEETING
  
[I don't much s'pose, hows'ever I should plen it]
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POEMS III.
  
A FABLE FOR CRITICS:
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THE UNHAPPY LOT OF MR. KNOTT
 1. 
PART I
 2. 
PART II
 3. 
PART III
  
FRAGMENTS OF AN UNFINISHED POEM
  
AN ORIENTAL APOLOGUE
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UNDER THE WILLOWS, AND OTHER POEMS
  
TO CHARLES ELIOT NORTON
  
UNDER THE WILLOWS
  
DARA
  
THE FIRST SNOW-FALL
  
THE SINGING LEAVES
  
SEAWEED
  
THE FINDING OF THE LYRE
  
NEW-YEAR'S EVE, 1850
  
FOR AN AUTOGRAPH
  
AL FRESCO
  
MASACCIO
  
WITHOUT AND WITHIN
  
GODMINSTER CHIMES
  
THE PARTING OF THE WAYS
  
ALADDIN
  
AN INVITATION
  
THE NOMADES
  
SELF-STUDY
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PICTURES FROM APPLEDORE
 1. 
I.
 2. 
II.
 3. 
III.
 4. 
IV.
 5. 
V.
 6. 
VI.
  
THE WIND-HARP
  
AUF WIEDERSEHEN
  
PALINODE
  
AFTER THE BURIAL
  
THE DEAD HOUSE
  
A MOOD
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THE VOYAGE TO VINLAND
 1. 
I. BIÖRN'S BECKONERS
 2. 
II. THORWALD'S LAY
 3. 
III. GUDRIDA'S PROPHECY
  
MAHMOOD THE IMAGE-BREAKER
  
INVITA MINERVA
  
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
  
YUSSOUF
  
THE DARKENED MIND
  
WHAT RABBI JEHOSHA SAID
  
ALL-SAINTS
  
A WINTER-EVENING HYMN TO MY FIRE
  
FANCY'S CASUISTRY
  
TO MR. JOHN BARTLETT
  
ODE TO HAPPINESS
  
VILLA FRANCA
  
THE MINER
  
GOLD EGG: A DREAM-FANTASY
  
A FAMILIAR EPISTLE TO A FRIEND
  
AN EMBER PICTURE
  
TO H. W. L.
  
THE NIGHTINGALE IN THE STUDY
  
IN THE TWILIGHT
  
THE FOOT-PATH
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POEMS IV.
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POEMS OF THE WAR
  
THE WASHERS OF THE SHROUD
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TWO SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF BLONDEL
 1. 
Scene I.
 2. 
Scene II.
  
MEMORIÆ POSITUM
  
ON BOARD THE '76
  
ODE RECITED AT THE HARVARD COMMEMORATION
  
L'ENVOI TO THE MUSE
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THE CATHEDRAL
  
To MR. JAMES T. FIELDS
  
[section]
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THREE MEMORIAL POEMS
  
[dedication]
  
[If I let fall a word of bitter mirth]
  
ODE
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UNDER THE OLD ELM
 1. 
I.
 2. 
II.
 3. 
III.
 4. 
IV.
 5. 
V.
 6. 
VI.
 7. 
VII.
 8. 
VIII.
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AN ODE
 1. 
I.
 2. 
II.
 3. 
III.
 4. 
IV.
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HEARTSEASE AND RUE
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AGASSIZ
 1. 
I.
 2. 
II.
 3. 
III.
 4. 
IV.
 5. 
V.
 6. 
VI.
  
TO HOLMES
  
IN A COPY OF OMAR KHAYYÁM
  
ON RECEIVING A COPY OF MR. AUSTIN DOBSON'S “OLD WORLD IDYLLS”
  
TO C. F. BRADFORD
  
BANKSIDE
  
JOSEPH WINLOCK
  
SONNET TO FANNY ALEXANDER
  
JEFFRIES WYMAN
  
TO A FRIEND
  
WITH AN ARMCHAIR
  
E. G. DE R.
  
BON VOYAGE
  
TO WHITTIER
  
ON AN AUTUMN SKETCH OF H. G. WILD
  
TO MISS D. T.
  
WITH A COPY OF AUCASSIN AND NICOLETE
  
ON PLANTING A TREE AT INVERARA
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AN EPISTLE TO GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS
  
1874.
  
POSTCRIPT, 1887.
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SENTIMENT
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ENDYMION
 1. 
I.
 2. 
II.
 3. 
III.
 4. 
IV.
 5. 
V.
 6. 
VI.
 7. 
VII.
  
THE BLACK PREACHER
  
ARCADIA REDIVIVA
  
THE NEST
  
A YOUTHFUL EXPERIMENT IN ENGLISH HEXAMETERS
  
BIRTHDAY VERSES
  
ESTRANGEMENT
  
PHŒBE
  
DAS EWIG-WEIBLICHE
  
THE RECALL
  
ABSENCE
  
MONNA LISA
  
THE OPTIMIST
  
ON BURNING SOME OLD LETTERS
  
THE PROTEST
  
THE PETITION
  
FACT OR FANCY?
  
AGRO-DOLCE
  
THE BROKEN TRYST
  
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
  
MY PORTRAIT GALLERY
  
PAOLO TO FRANCESCA
  
SONNET SCOTTISH BORDER
  
SONNET ON BEING ASKED FOR AN AUTOGRAPH IN VENICE
  
THE DANCING BEAR
  
THE MAPLE
  
NIGHTWATCHES
  
DEATH OF QUEEN MERCEDES
  
PRISON OF CERVANTES
  
TO A LADY PLAYING ON THE CITHERN
  
THE EYE'S TREASURY
  
PESSIMOPTIMISM
  
THE BRAKES
  
A FOREBODING
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FANCY
  
UNDER THE OCTOBER MAPLES
  
LOVE'S CLOCK
  
ELEANOR MAKES MACAROONS
  
TELEPATHY
  
SCHERZO
  
“FRANCISCUS DE VERULAMIO SIC COGITAVIT”
  
AUSPEX
  
THE PREGNANT COMMENT
  
THE LESSON
  
SCIENCE AND POETRY
  
A NEW YEAR'S GREETING
  
THE DISCOVERY
  
WITH A SEASHELL
  
THE SECRET
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HUMOR AND SATIRE
  
FITZ ADAM'S STORY
  
THE ORIGIN OF DIDACTIC POETRY
  
THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
  
CREDIDIMUS JOVEM REGNARE
  
TEMPORA MUTANTUR
  
IN THE HALF-WAY HOUSE
  
AT THE BURNS CENTENNIAL
  
IN AN ALBUM
  
AT THE COMMENCEMENT DINNER, 1866
  
A PARABLE
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EPIGRAMS
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SAYINGS
 1. 
[1. In life's small things be resolute and great]
 2. 
[2. A camel-driver, angry with his drudge]
 3. 
[3. Swiftly the politic goes: is it dark?—he borrows a lantern]
 4. 
[4 “Where lies the capital, pilgrim, seat of who governs the Faithful?”]
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INSCRIPTIONS
  
FOR A BELL AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY
  
FOR A MEMORIAL WINDOW TO SIR WALTER RALEIGH, SET UP IN ST. MARGARET'S, WESTMINSTER, BY AMERICAN CONTRIBUTORS
  
PROPOSED FOR A SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT IN BOSTON
  
A MISCONCEPTION
  
THE BOSS
  
SUN-WORSHIP
  
CHANGED PERSPECTIVE
  
WITH A PAIR OF GLOVES LOST IN A WAGER
  
SIXTY-EIGHTH BIRTHDAY

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189

PESSIMOPTIMISM

Ye little think what toil it was to build
A world of men imperfect even as this,
Where we conceive of Good by what we miss,
Of Ill by that wherewith best days are filled;
A world whose every atom is self-willed,
Whose corner-stone is propt on artifice,
Whose joy is shorter-lived than woman's kiss,
Whose wisdom hoarded is but to be spilled.
Yet this is better than a life of caves,
Whose highest art was scratching on a bone,
Or chipping toilsome arrowheads of flint;
Better, though doomed to hear while Cleon raves,
To see wit's want eterned in paint or stone,
And wade the drain-drenched shoals of daily print.
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