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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.
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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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62

XVIII.

[One might believe that natural miseries]

OCTOBER, 1803.
One might believe that natural miseries
Had blasted France, and made of it a land
Unfit for men; and that in one great band
Her sons were bursting forth, to dwell at ease.
But 'tis a chosen soil, where sun and breeze
Shed gentle favours: rural works are there,
And ordinary business without care;
Spot rich in all things that can soothe and please!
How piteous then that there should be such dearth
Of knowledge; that whole myriads should unite
To work against themselves such fell despite:
Should come in phrensy and in drunken mirth,
Impatient to put out the only light
Of Liberty that yet remains on earth!
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