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University of Virginia Library

The Poetry of George Wither

Edited by Frank Sidgwick

Wither, George (1588-1667)

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I.

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THE SHEPHERD'S HUNTING

1.

THE FIRST ECLOGUE. Willy leaves his flock awhile

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2.

THE SECOND ECLOGUE. Cuddy here relates

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3.

THE THIRD ECLOGUE. Philaret with his three friends

4.

THE FOURTH ECLOGUE. Philaret on Willy calls

5.

THE FIFTH ECLOGUE. Philaret Alexis moves

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An Elegiacal Epistle of FIDELIA to her unconstant friend.

THE AUTHOR'S RESOLUTION IN A SONNET.

INTER EQUITAND: PALINOD

MASTER JOHNSON'S ANSWER TO MASTER WITHERS.

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EPITHALAMIA: OR NVPTIALL POEMS

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CERTAIN EPIGRAMS CONCERNING MARRIAGE.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

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II.

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FAIRE-VIRTUE, THE MISTRESSE OF PHIL'ARETE.

PHILARETE TO HIS MISTRESS.

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FAIR VIRTUE OR THE MISTRESS OF PHILARETE.

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1.

2.

THE NYMPH'S SONG.

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A Miscellany of Epigrams, Sonnets, Epitaphs, and such other Verses as were found written with the Poem aforegoing.

1.

1. OF THE INVENTION OF THE NINE MUSES.

2.

2. OF THE LABOURS OF HERCULES.

3.

3. BEING LEFT BY A GENTLEMAN IN HIS DINING-ROOM, WHERE WAS NOTHING BUT A MAP OF ENGLAND TO ENTERTAIN HIM, HE THUS TURNED IT INTO VERSE.

4.

4. AN EPITAPH UPON THE RIGHT VIRTUOUS LADY, THE LADY SCOTT.

5.

5. AN EPITAPH UPON A WOMAN AND HER CHILD, BURIED TOGETHER IN THE SAME GRAVE.

6.

6. A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

7.

7. AN EPITAPH UPON THE PORTER OF A PRISON.

8.

8. A SONNET UPON A STOLEN KISS.

9.

9. AN EPITAPH UPON ABRAM GOODFELLOW, A COMMON ALEHOUSE-HUNTER.

10.

10. AN EPITAPH UPON A GENTLEWOMAN WHO HAD FORETOLD THE TIME OF HER DEATH.

11.

11. AN EPITAPH ON A CHILD, SON TO SIR W. H. KNIGHT.

12.

13.

14.

14. CERTAIN VERSES WRITTEN TO HIS LOVING FRIEND, UPON HIS DEPARTURE.

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7. AN EPITAPH UPON THE PORTER OF A PRISON.

Here lie the bones of him that was of late
A churlish porter of a prison gate.
Death many an evening at his lodging knock'd,
But could not take him, for the door was lock'd;
Yet at a tavern late one night he found him,
And getting him into the cellar, drown'd him.
On which the world, that still the worst is thinking,
Reports abroad that he was kill'd with drinking;

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Yet let no prisoner, whether thief or debtor,
Rejoice, as if his fortune were the better;
Their sorrow's likely to be ne'er the shorter,
The warden lives, though death hath took the porter.