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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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VOL. III.
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VOL. IV.
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THE WHITE DOE OF RYLSTONE;
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ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS.
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PART I. FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY INTO BRITAIN, TO THE CONSUMMATION OF THE PAPAL DOMINION.
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PART II. TO THE CLOSE OF THE TROUBLES IN THE REIGN OF CHARLES I.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III. CISTERTIAN MONASTERY.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V. MONKS AND SCHOOLMEN.
 VI. 
VI. OTHER BENEFITS.
 VII. 
VII. OTHER BENEFITS: CONTINUED.
 VIII. 
VIII. CRUSADERS.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI. TRANSUBSTANTIATION.
 XII. 
XII. THE VAUDOIS.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV. WALDENSES.
 XV. 
XV. ARCHBISHOP CHICHELY TO HENRY V.
 XVI. 
XVI. WARS OF YORK AND LANCASTER.
 XVII. 
XVII. WICLIFFE.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. CORRUPTIONS OF THE HIGHER CLERGY.
 XIX. 
XIX. ABUSE OF MONASTIC POWER.
 XX. 
XX. MONASTIC VOLUPTUOUSNESS.
 XXI. 
XXI. DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES.
 XXII. 
XXII. THE SAME SUBJECT. [DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES.]
 XXIII. 
XXIII. [DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES]: CONTINUED.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. SAINTS.
 XXV. 
XXV. THE VIRGIN.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. APOLOGY.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. IMAGINATIVE REGRETS.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. REFLECTIONS.
 XXIX. 
XXIX. TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE.
 XXX. 
XXX. THE POINT AT ISSUE.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. EDWARD VI.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. EDWARD SIGNING THE WARRANT FOR THE EXECUTION OF JOAN OF KENT.
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII. REVIVAL OF POPERY.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. LATIMER AND RIDLEY.
 XXXV. 
XXXV. CRANMER.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. GENERAL VIEW OF THE TROUBLES OF THE REFORMATION.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. ENGLISH REFORMERS IN EXILE.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. ELIZABETH.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. EMINENT REFORMERS.
 XL. 
XL. THE SAME. [EMINENT REFORMERS.]
 XLI. 
XLI. DISTRACTIONS.
 XLII. 
XLII. GUNPOWDER PLOT.
 XLIII. 
XLIII. THE JUNG-FRAU AND THE FALL OF THE RHINE NEAR SCHAFFHAUSEN.
 XLIV. 
XLIV. TROUBLES OF CHARLES THE FIRST.
 XLV. 
XLV. LAUD .
 XLVI. 
XLVI. AFFLICTIONS OF ENGLAND.
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PART III. FROM THE RESTORATION TO THE PRESENT TIMES.
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EVENING VOLUNTARIES.
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POEMS, COMPOSED OR SUGGESTED DURING A TOUR, IN THE SUMMER OF 1833.
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POEMS OF SENTIMENT AND REFLECTION.
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SONNETS DEDICATED TO LIBERTY AND ORDER.
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SONNETS UPON THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.
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VOL. V.
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[volume]

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XXVI. APOLOGY.

Not utterly unworthy to endure
Was the supremacy of crafty Rome;
Age after age to the arch of Christendom
Aërial keystone haughtily secure;
Supremacy from Heaven transmitted pure,
As many hold; and, therefore, to the tomb
Pass, some through fire—and by the scaffold some—
Like saintly Fisher, and unbending More.
‘Lightly for both the bosom's lord did sit
‘Upon his throne;’ unsoftened, undismayed
By aught that mingled with the tragic scene
Of pity or fear; and More's gay genius played
With the inoffensive sword of native wit,
Than the bare axe more luminous and keen.
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