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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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But, Sunday past, what numbers flourish then,
What wondrous labours of the press and pen!
Diurnal most, some thrice each week affords,
Some only once,—O avarice of words!
When thousand starving minds such manna seek,
To drop the precious food but once a week.
121

Endless it were to sing the powers of all,
Their names, their numbers; how they rise and fall:
Like baneful herbs the gazer's eye they seize,
Rush to the head, and poison where they please:
Like idle flies, a busy, buzzing train,
They drop their maggots in the trifler's brain:
That genial soil receives the fruitful store,
And there they grow, and breed a thousand more.
122

Now be their arts display'd, how first they choose
A cause and party, as the bard his muse;
Inspired by these, with clamorous zeal they cry,
And through the town their dreams and omens fly:
So the Sibylline leaves were blown about,
Disjointed scraps of fate involved in doubt;
So idle dreams, the journals of the night,
Are right and wrong by turns, and mingle wrong with right.—
Some champions for the rights that prop the crown,
Some sturdy patriots, sworn to pull them down;
Some neutral powers, with secret forces fraught,
Wishing for war, but willing to be bought:
While some to every side and party go,
Shift every friend, and join with every foe;
Like sturdy rogues in privateers, they strike
This side and that, the foes of both alike;
A traitor-crew, who thrive in troubled times,
Fear'd for their force, and courted for their crimes.
Chief to the prosperous side the numbers sail,
Fickle and false, they veer with every gale;
As birds that migrate from a freezing shore,
In search of warmer climes, come skimming o'er,
Some bold adventurers first prepare to try
The doubtful sunshine of the distant sky;
But soon the growing Summer's certain sun
Wins more and more, till all at last are won:
123

So, on the early prospect of disgrace,
Fly in vast troops this apprehensive race;
Instinctive tribes! their failing food they dread,
And buy, with timely change, their future bread.
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