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My Lyrical Life

Poems Old and New. By Gerald Massey
Massey, Gerald (1828-1907)

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FIRST SERIES.
  
Dedication.
  
A GREETING.
  
PREFATORY POEM.
  
BABE CHRISTABEL.
  
COUSIN WINNIE.
  
HESPER.
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APOLOGUES.
  
THE YOUTH AND THE ANGEL.
  
SUNBEAM AND ROSE.
  
LOVE-LONGING.
  
THE NEST.
  
HUNT THE SQUIRREL.
  
THE GLOW-WORM.
  
THE SUNKEN CITY.
  
HOW IT SEEMS.
  
THE WILD-FLOWER.
  
THE BIRD OF MORN.
  
A BIRD OF NIGHT.
  
THE LADY OF LIGHT.
  
LITTLE PEARL.
  
THE MAIDEN MARRIAGE.
  
THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF.
  
AN APOLOGUE.
  
IN MEMORIAM.
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CARMINA NUPTIALIA.
  
WEDDED LOVE.
  
THE WEDDING.
  
SERENADE.
  
ARGUING IN A CIRCLE.
  
AN APRIL WEDDING.
  
LEAVE-TAKING.
  
AS THEY PASSED.
  
EVOË.
  
[English John Talbot, Shakspeare's terribly brave]
  
A WAYSIDE WHISPER.
  
THE WELCOME HOME.
  
THE BONNY BRIDELAND FLOWER.
  
A LOVER'S SONG.
  
THE MARRIED LIFE.
  
VIA CRUCIS VIA LUCIS.
  
ANCIENT EGYPT.
  
EGYPTIAN ELYSIUM.
  
THE KRONIAN GODS.
  
PROTOPLASM.
  
A POET'S LOVE-LETTER.
  
A LETTER IN BLACK.
  
WIDOW MARGARET.
  
PICTURES IN THE FIRE.
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SONGS.
  
OLD FRIENDS.
  
SYLVIA MAY.
  
IN A DREAM.
  
THAT MERRY, MERRY MAY.
  
A LOVER'S FANCY.
  
NO JEWELLED BEAUTY IS MY LOVE.
  
THE TWO ROSES.
  
SWEET-AND-TWENTY.
  
THE WEDDING-RING.
  
LOVE'S WESTWARD HO!
  
MY LOVE.
  
LULLABY.
  
AUTUMN SONG.
  
SYRINX.
  
O LAY THY HAND IN MINE, DEAR!
  
LONG, LONG AGO.
  
A SOLDIER'S WIFE.
  
ROBIN'S SONG.
  
THE ONLY ONE.
  
A MAIDEN'S SONG.
  
LOVE.
  
NOW AND THEN.
  
EMIGRANT SONG.
  
THE SAILOR'S ORPHAN CHILD.
  
ON DECK TOGETHER.
  
A PEARL DIVER.
  
PARTING.
  
“FOR EVER.”
  
SHAKSPEARE.
  
“ALL READY AND ALL ONE.”
  
ENGLAND.
  
THE OLD LAND.
  
SEA-SONG.
  
OUR NATIVE LAND.
  
A NATIONAL ANTHEM.
  
HAVELOCK'S MARCH.
  
ONLY A DREAM.
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AN ORPHAN FAMILY'S CHRISTMAS.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII.
  
THE BRIDEGROOM OF BEAUTY.
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POEMS FOR CHRISTIE.
  
A WINTER'S TALE FOR THE LITTLE ONES.
  
FOR CHRISTIE'S SAKE.
  
CHRISTIE'S PORTRAIT.
  
THE TWO HEAVENS.
  
SLEEP-WALKING.
  
CHRISTIE'S POOR OLD GRAN.
  
NEWS OF CHRISTIE.
  
LITTLE WILLIE.
  
WHEN CHRISTIE COMES AGAIN.
  
CHILDREN AT PLAY.
  
LITTLE LILYBELL.
  
OUR WHITE DOVE.
  
POOR ELLEN.
  
THE NABOB'S DOUBLE.
  
THE DIAKKA.
  
“THEY SANG A NEW SONG.”
  
FLOWER AND FRUIT.
  
PEGASUS IN HARNESS.
  
LOVE AND DEATH.
  
ORPHANS.
  
ONE OF SHAKSPEARE'S WOMEN.
  
IMPERFECTION.
  
SO IT GOES.
  
GROWING OLD.
  
A GREEK REPLY.
  
MAN AND HIS TWO MASTERS.
  
WOMANKIND.
  
A VERY EARLY RISER.
  
A PECULIAR PERSON.
  
DELIA BACON.
  
A PAINTED SPRAY OF APPLE-BLOSSOM.
  
AN ANGEL IN THE HOUSE.
  
SOULS OF ANIMALS.
  
TRUE POETS.
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THE HAUNTED HURST,
  
[prologue]
 I. 
PART I.
 II. 
PART II.
 III. 
PART III.
 IV. 
PART IV.
 V. 
PART V.
 VI. 
PART VI.
 VII. 
PART VII.
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SECOND SERIES.
  
LADY MARIAN.
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THE SEA-KINGS.
  
THE NORSEMAN.
  
OLD KING HAKE.
  
THE BANNER-BEARER OF KING OLAF.
  
SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE'S LAST FIGHT.
  
ROBERT BLAKE.
  
AN OLD MAN-O'-WAR'S-MAN'S YARN.
  
TURNER'S TEMERAIRE.
  
SIR ROBERT'S SAILOR SON.
  
THE STOKER'S STORY.
  
THE CAPTAIN OF THE “NORTHFLEET.”
  
A BIRTHDAY ON BOARD.
  
THE SEA KINGS.
  
A DAUGHTER OF THE SEA-KINGS.
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PERSONAL.
  
ROBERT BURNS.
  
HOOD,
  
MAURICE AND THE BIGOTS.
  
HUGH MILLER'S GRAVE.
  
TO A BEREAVED FRIEND.
  
ALBERT THE GOOD.
  
WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY.
  
ACROSS THE WATER.
  
THE ENGLISH OF IT.
  
PRIDEAUX AT MAGDALA.
  
CAMOENS.
  
PUNCH IN A GRAVE MOOD.
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A REVIEWER REVIEWED.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
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V.
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VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
  
AN OLD CUSTOM STILL EXTANT.
  
A FORERUNNER.
  
THE FORERUNNER.
  
ALEXANDER RUSSEL.
  
A PERSONAL REPLY.
  
AT THE PRISON-DOOR.
  
THE FALSIFYERS OF MYTHOLOGY.
  
DEDICATION TO THE “NATURAL GENESIS.”
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GARIBALDI.
  
GARIBALDI IN EXILE.
  
GARIBALDI ON THE MARCH.
  
ONE OF GARIBALDI'S MEN.
  
GARIBALDI AT ASPROMONTE.
  
FRANCE AND GARIBALDI.
  
GARIBALDI'S PROPHECY.
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WEDDED LOVE.
  
THE YOUNG POET TO HIS WIFE.
  
LONG EXPECTED.
  
WOOED AND WON.
  
THE BRIDAL.
  
WEDDED LOVE.
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THE MOTHER'S IDOL BROKEN.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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III.
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VI.
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VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
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X.
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XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII.
 XVIII. 
XVIII.
 XIX. 
XIX.
 XX. 
XX.
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LYRICS OF LOVE.
  
SWEET SPIRIT OF MY LOVE.
  
NOT I, SWEET SOUL, NOT I.
  
LOVE ME.
  
THE PATRIOT TO HIS BRIDE.
  
A POOR MAN'S WIFE.
  
MY BONNY LADY.
  
HUSBAND AND WIFE.
  
WHEN I COME HOME.
  
LOVE'S FAIRY-RING.
  
TO THE BELOVED ONE.
  
MATRIMONY.
  
THE LOVE-LETTER.
  
LOVE-IN-IDLENESS.
  
A BALLAD OF THE OLD TIME.
  
IN THE NIGHT.
  
FALLEN.
  
DESERTED.
  
DROWNED.
  
JILTED.
  
LOVE AND THE LADY.
  
ICHABOD.
  
A VILLAGE COURTING.
  
ON A WEDDING-DAY.
  
A LYRIC OF LOVE.
  
AT EVENTIDE.
  
THE MISTLETOE BOUGH.
  
LIFE AND DEATH.
  
WOMAN.
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CRIES OF 'FORTY-EIGHT.
  
CRIES OF 'FORTY-EIGHT.
  
THE PEOPLE'S ADVENT.
  
THE BATTLE-CALL.
  
THE EARTH FOR ALL.
  
THE LORDS OF LAND AND MONEY.
  
THE AWAKENING.
  
“ALL'S RIGHT WITH THE WORLD.”
  
A CRY OF THE UNEMPLOYED.
  
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE.
  
OUR FATHERS ARE PRAYING FOR PAUPER-PAY.
  
ANATHEMA MARANATHA.
  
A CRY OF THE PEOPLE.
  
PRESS ON.
  
THEY ARE BUT GIANTS WHILE WE KNEEL.
  
SONG OF THE RED REPUBLICAN.
  
AFTER THE STRUGGLE.
  
OUR MARTYRS.
  
THE MEN OF 'FORTY-EIGHT.
  
A WELCOME.
  
THE EXILE.
  
IT WILL END IN THE RIGHT.
  
THE KINGLIEST KINGS.
  
HOPE ON, HOPE EVER.
  
THE THREE VOICES.
  
ONWARD AND SUNWARD.
  
GOD'S WORLD IS WORTHY OF BETTER MEN.
  
THIS WORLD IS FULL OF BEAUTY.
  
THERE'S NO DEARTH OF KINDNESS.
  
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOUR.
  
THE CHIVALRY OF LABOUR.
  
TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW.
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LADY LAURA.
 I. 
[I.]
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
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IV.
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V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII.
 XVIII. 
XVIII.
 XIX. 
XIX.
 XX. 
XX.
 XXI. 
XXI.
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WAR-WAITS.
  
NEW YEAR'S EVE IN EXILE.
  
ENGLAND GOES TO BATTLE.
  
TROOPS LEAVING EDINBURGH.
  
DOWN IN AUSTRALIA.
  
FRANCE AND ENGLAND.
  
AFTER ALMA.
  
BEFORE SEBASTOPOL.
  
SCARLETT'S THREE HUNDRED.
  
OUR HEROES.
  
INKERMAN.
  
NICHOLAS AND THE BRITISH LION.
  
A WAR WINTER'S-NIGHT IN ENGLAND.
  
THE MARTYRS' HILL.
  
OUR ENGLISH NIGHTINGALE.
  
CATHCART'S HILL.
  
THE COALITION AND THE PEOPLE.
  
ALL OVER.
  
ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON.
  
THE OLD FLAG.
  
ENGLAND AND LOUIS NAPOLEON.
  
LOUIS NAPOLEON:—“À BERLIN.”
  
MÖLTKE'S PROMISE.
  
THE MITRAILLEUSE AT SAARBRÜCKEN.
  
A GRAVE ERROR.
  
THE FAITH OF THE PHILISTINE.
  
PEACE-AT-ANY-PRICE MEN.
  
THE SECOND EMPIRE.
  
A PLEA FOR THE REPUBLIC.
  
LOUIS NAPOLEON AND SOME COCKNEY WORKING-MEN.
  
THE TWO NAPOLEONS.
  
THE ABOLITIONIST TO HIS BRIDE.
  
AN IMPERIAL REPLY.
  
THE BOY'S RETURN.
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LAST LYRICS.
  
WAITING FOR THE VERDICT.
  
THE GREAT NEW CAUSE.
  
THE “GRAND OLD MAN.”
  
A LEADER!
  
LOOKING BEFORE AND AFTER.
  
FALSE MARRIAGE OR TRUE UNION?
  
JOHN BRIGHT.
  
THE PRIMROSE DAME.
  
BATTLE OF THE RANK AND FILE.
  
THE LEAGUE OF LABOUR.
  
LABOURERS' ELECTION SONG.
  
THE LAST OF EMERGENCY MEN.
  
HOLD TOGETHER, BOYS.
  
TO-MORROW!
  
LIGHT AT LAST.

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129

THE WEDDING-RING.

This old world is scarce worth seeing,
Till Love wave his purple wing,
And we gauge the bliss of being,
Through a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, the wedding-ring.
Would you draw far Eden nearer,
And to earth the Angels bring;
You must seek the magic mirror
Of a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, the wedding-ring.
As the earth with sea is bounded,
And the winter-world with spring,
So a Maiden's life is rounded
With a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, the wedding-ring.
I have known full many a Maiden,
Like a white rose withering,
Into fresh ripe beauty redden
Through a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, the wedding-ring.
As the crescent Moon rings golden,
Her full glory perfecting,
Womanly beauty is unfolden
In a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, the wedding-ring.
Fainting spirits oft grow fearless,
Sighing hearts will soar and sing,
Tearful eyes will laugh out tearless,
Through a golden wedding-ring;
Heigho, the wedding-ring.
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