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University of Virginia Library

Sonnets, Lyrics and Translations

By the Rev. Charles Turner [i.e. Charles Tennyson]

Turner, Charles Tennyson (1808-1879)

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LITTLE SOPHY BY THE SEASIDE.

THE BUTTERFLY AND THE ROSE.

THE DYING SCULPTOR.

THE BARMOUTH SEA-BRIDGE.

ON A CHILD'S EYES.

OUR MARY AND THE CHILD-MUMMY.

CALLED FROM BED;

A BLUSH AT FAREWELL.

THE HYDRAULIC RAM;

ON THE MONUMENT OF THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH STUART IN NEWPORT CHURCH, ISLE OF WIGHT.

THE SICK ORPHAN;

THE MISSING BRIDE.

ARMS OLD AND NEW.

THE BOMB AND THE ORGAN.

TO A FRENCH POET AND REFUGEE.

THE ASCENT OF SNOWDON.

THE ARTIST ON PENMAENMAWR.

CADER IDRIS AT SUNSET.

THE OLD HILLS'-MAN AND HIS TRUCK.

THE LITTLE HEIR OF SHAME.

THE HARVEST MOON.

OLD RURALITIES.

TO A RED-WHEAT FIELD.

TO A SCARECROW, OR MALKIN, LEFT LONG AFTER HARVEST.

THE OLD FOX-HUNTER.

TO THE GOSSAMER-LIGHT.

ON FINDING A SMALL FLY CRUSHED IN A BOOK.

THE EAGLE AND THE SONNET.

A COLONY OF NIGHTINGALES.

THE SPARROW AND THE DEW-DROP.

TO A CUCKOO IN A HIGHWAY HEDGE.

THE SWAN AND THE PEACOCK.

OUR NEW CHURCH.

OUR NEW CHURCH CLOCK.

TWELVE O'CLOCK AT NOON.

THE AFTERNOTE OF THE HOUR.

AFTER THE SCHOOL-FEAST.

THE MURDER OF BISHOP PATTESON.

THE PASTOR'S PRAYER.

TO THE HOLY VIRGIN.

TO MY SISTER MARY.

A PERVERSE LOVER.

A MOURNING LOVER.

TO THE NIGHTINGALE.

ON SOME HUMMING-BIRDS IN A GLASS CASE.

THE “CANNON FEVER.”

THE EARTHQUAKE.

TO A YOUNG KING.

GREECE: AN ASPIRATION.

DEATH AND ITS ANTIDOTE.

SCIENCE AND FAITH.

THE PORTRAIT PAINTER.

THE TRAVELLER AND HIS WIFE'S RINGLET.

THE ALTAR, AS CONNECTED WITH MARRIAGE.

A BRIDAL FAREWELL.

WRITTEN FOR THE MADINGLEY SCHOOL, ON THE ARRIVAL OF THE PRINCE OF WALES AT THE MANOR HOUSE, IN 1861.

A LEGEND FROM DE LAMARTINE'S TRAVELS IN THE EAST, VERSIFIED.

AN INCIDENT ON THE DEE.

SLEEP AND DREAMS.

A FATHER TO HIS SICK CHILD ASLEEP.

BY A DEATH-BED.

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67

ON SOME HUMMING-BIRDS IN A GLASS CASE.

For vacant song behold a shining theme!
These dumb-struck flutterers from Indian land,
The colour on whose crests, sweet Nature's hand,
Fulfils our richest thought of crimson gleam;
Whose wings, thus spread and balanc'd forth, might seem
Slender as serpent's tongue or fairy's wand—
And, as with vantage of the sun we stand,
Each glossy bosom kindles in his beam;
Ah me! how soon does human death impair
The tender beauty of the fairest face,
Whatever balms and unguents we prepare!
While these resplendent creatures bear no trace,
Bright-bosom'd and bright-crested as they are,
No soil, nor token of the tomb's disgrace!