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Poems by Frances Sargent Osgood

Osgood, Frances Sargent Locke (1811-1850)

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[section]
  
[dedication]
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POEMS
  
[Love! no more, with soul of fire]
  
TO THE SPIRIT OF POETRY.
  
ERMENGARDE'S AWAKENING.
  
EURYDICE.
  
UPBRAID ME NOT.
  
VICTORIA,
  
A FLIGHT OF FANCY.
  
THE COCOA-NUT TREE.
  
THE BABY AND THE BREEZE.
  
LABORARE EST ORARE.
  
PURITY'S PEARL;
  
FRAGMENTS OF AN UNFINISHED STORY.
  
ADDRESS,
  
THE INDIAN MAID'S REPLY TO THE MISSIONARY.
  
WOMAN.
  
TO A CHILD PLAYING WITH A WATCH.
  
TO ---.
  
A REMEMBRANCE.
  
THE MAGIC PRISM.
  
THE CID.
  
FIRST AFFECTION.
  
A DREAM.
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LULIN; OR, THE DIAMOND FAY.
 1. 
I.
 2. 
II.
  
THE STATUE TO PYGMALION.
  
IDA TO ERNEST.
  
THE FAN.
  
NO!
  
ONE RADIANT EVE.
  
CALUMNY.
  
TO S. S. OSGOOD.
  
THE FLOWERS AND GEMS OF GENIUS.
  
FORGIVE AND FORGET.
  
A FAREWELL TO A HAPPY DAY.
  
THANK GOD, I GLORY IN THY LOVE!
  
HAD WE BUT MET.
  
THE FOLDED FLOWER.
  
BELIEVE ME, 'TIS NO PANG.
  
“WE PART FOR EVER!”
  
FAREWELL.
  
ALONE.
  
TO SLEEP.
  
A WEED.
  
TO ---.
  
OH! BEAUTIFUL ART THOU.
  
NEW ENGLAND.
  
NEW ENGLAND'S MOUNTAIN-CHILD.
  
THE EXILE'S LAMENT.
  
ON PARTING FOR A TIME WITH AN INFANT'S PORTRAIT.
  
FANNY'S FIRST SMILE.
  
ELLEN LEARNING TO WALK.
  
CONTENTMENT.
  
“WEARY OF YOU!”
  
THE STARLIGHT AND MUSIC OF HOME.
  
TO MY MOTHER.
  
TO A DEAR SISTER.
  
TO A MAIDEN IN DOUBT.
  
TO MARY.
  
TO MRS. O.
  
TO AMELIA WELBY.
  
TO SIBYL.
  
TO SARAH,
  
TO LITTLE MAY VINCENT.
  
TO MY PEN.
  
TO A SLANDERED POETESS.
  
TO AN IDEA THAT WOULDN'T “COME.”
  
ON SIVORI'S VIOLIN.
  
WHAT CAN BE THE MATTER?
  
VENUS AND THE MODERN BELLE.
  
A REMONSTRANCE.
  
IMPROMPTU, TO ---.
  
OLD FRIENDS.
  
“THE HOURS AWAKING THE MORNING.”
  
THE LANGUAGE OF GEMS.
  
GOLDEN RULES IN RHYME.
  
MARION'S SONG IN THE SCHOOL-ROOM.
  
BEAUTY'S PRAYER.
  
I DEARLY LOVE A CHANGING CHEEK.
  
TO A TRIFLER.
  
THE LOVE MY HEART ACCORDED YOU.
  
CAPRICE.
  
A DANCING GIRL.
  
IMPROMPTU AT SEA.
  
THE POET'S REPLY TO UNDESERVED PRAISE.
  
UNDINE TO ---.
  
OH! HASTEN TO MY SIDE.
  
THE GENTLE WORD.
  
JE VEILLE SUR TOI, MA MÈRE!
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SACRED POEMS.
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THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS.
 3. 
III.
  
THE LIFE-BOAT.
  
SORROW AND JOY.
  
LITTLE CHILDREN.
  
A SERMON.
  
A MOTHER'S PRAYER IN ILLNESS.
  
“ASHES OF ROSES.”
  
ASPIRATIONS.
  
A DEAF GIRL RESTORED.
  
THE TALISMAN.
  
THE SHUNAMITE.
  
PRAYERS OF THE CHILDREN.
  
THE SOUL'S APPEAL.
  
THE RAINBOW OF THE SOUL.
  
HYMN.
  
A HYMN AT SUNSET.
  
FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE HOME OF THE FRIENDLESS.
  
GOD LOVES HIM STILL.
  
MUSIC.
  
THE WORSHIP OF NATURE.
  
THE SOUL'S LAMENT FOR HOME.
  
HYMN TO THE VIRGIN.
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BALLADS AND TALES.
  
LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD.
  
THE LIFE-VOYAGE.
  
DREAM-MUSIC; OR, THE SPIRIT-LUTE.
  
LUCY'S GEM.
  
THE LUTIN-STEED.
  
THE LOVER'S LIST.
  
DE WARRENNE BEFORE KING EDWARD.
  
ZARIFA.
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FLORAL FANCIES.
  
THE FLOWER LOVE-LETTER.
  
MAY-DAY IN NEW ENGLAND.
  
THE PRISM, THE FLOWER, AND THE SUNBEAM.
  
THE VIOLET AND THE STAR.
  
GARDEN GOSSIP,
  
THE DAISY'S MISTAKE.
  
THE STAR AND THE FLOWER.
  
THE POET TO ONE WHO LOVES HIM.
  
THE SOUL FLOWER.
  
THE “FAIRER FLOWER.”
  
THE HALF-BLOWN ROSE.
  
THE FLOWER AND THE BROOK.
  
THE FLOWER AND THE HUMMING-BIRD.
  
IMPROMPTU TO ---.
  
THE SUNBEAM'S LOVE.
  
THE WREATH OF GRASSES.
  
THE DYING ROSE-BUD'S LAMENT.
  
THE LOST LILY.
  
HOPE.
  
THE GARDEN OF FRIENDSHIP.
  
WHY WILL A ROSE-BUD BLOW?
  
THE LILY'S REPLY.
  
THE PHANTOM-FLOWER.
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SONGS.
 1. 
I. “HAPPY AT HOME.”
 2. 
II. WHY DON'T HE COME?
 3. 
III. TO A DEAR LITTLE TRUANT.
 4. 
IV. I LOOKED NOT—I SIGHED NOT.
 5. 
V. THEY NEVER CAN KNOW THAT HEART.
 6. 
VI. CALL ME PET NAMES, DEAREST.
 7. 
VII. COME TO ME, ANSWER.
 8. 
VIII. LADY JANE.
 9. 
IX. ELLEN ARDELLE.
 10. 
X. AZURE-EYED ELOISE.
 11. 
XI. LULU.
 12. 
XII. CARRY CARLISLE.
 13. 
XIII. “BOIS TON SANG, BEAUMANOIR!”
 14. 
XIV. COME HITHER, YOU WILD LITTLE WILL-O'-THE-WISP.
 15. 
XV. HER HANDS CLASPED IN ANGUISH—HER BLACK EYES BENT LOW.
 16. 
XVI. HE DID NOT SAY HE LOVED ME.
 17. 
XVII. GAY GIRLS ARE WREATHING.
 18. 
XVIII. I CANNOT FORGET HIM.
 19. 
XIX. LET HIM GO.
 20. 
XX. FOR THEE, LOVE, FOR THEE.
 21. 
XXI. I LOVED AN IDEAL.
 22. 
XXII. BRAID NOT THE JEWEL.
 23. 
XXIII. GO! LET ME PRAY.
 24. 
XXIV. HITHER—COME HITHER
 25. 
XXV. COME WITH THAT TRUE HEART.
 26. 
XXVI. NAY, COME NOT TO ME.
 27. 
XXVII. RARE BIRD OF THE WEST.
 28. 
XXVIII. OH NO, NEVER DEEM HER LESS WORTHY OF LOVE.
 29. 
XXIX. SEMPRE LO STESSO.
 30. 
XXX. OH! TELL ME AT ONCE THAT YOU LOVE ME NO MORE.
 31. 
XXXI. 'TIS GONE, ALL GONE.
 32. 
XXXII. SINCE THOU ART LOST TO ME ON EARTH.
 33. 
XXXIII. HE BADE ME BE HAPPY.
 34. 
XXXIV. THIS MORN, WHEN AURORA ABOVE THE LAKE BENT.
 35. 
XXXV. I KNOW IT—I FEEL IT—HE LOVES ME AT LAST!
 36. 
XXXVI. HE MAY GO—IF HE CAN.
 37. 
XXXVII. OH! FRAGILE AND FAIR.
 38. 
XXXVIII. A MAY-DAY SONG.
 39. 
XXXIX. YOU LOVE ME NO LONGER.
 40. 
XL. YOU TELL ME I'M A ROVER.
 41. 
XLI. TWILIGHT HOURS.
 42. 
XLII. AH! DO NOT LET US WORSE THAN WASTE.
 43. 
XLIII. LET YOUR SUMMER FRIENDS GO BY.
 44. 
XLIV. YOUNG BEAUTY SAILED A SUMMER SEA.
 45. 
XLV. I LAUNCHED A BARK.
 46. 
XLVI. HAD I ESSAYED, WITH WANTON ART.
 47. 
XLVII. THOUGH FRIENDS HAD WARNED THEE.
 48. 
XLVIII. I WANDERED IN THE WOODLAND.
 49. 
XLIX. PERHAPS YOU THINK IT RIGHT AND JUST.
 50. 
L. OUR LOVE WAS LIKE THE LIGHT PERFUME.
 51. 
LI. YOU BID ME GIVE BACK SCORN FOR SCORN.
 52. 
LII. DOST DEEM MY LOVE SO LIGHT A BOON.
 53. 
LIII. GO, THEN, FOR EVER.
 54. 
LIV. SHOULD ALL WHO THRONG.
 55. 
LV. AND GAYER FRIENDS SURROUND THEE NOW.
 56. 
LVI. I KNOW THAT RESTLESS HEART OF THINE.
 57. 
LVII. I ASK NO MORE.
 58. 
LVIII. THE DEEPEST WRONG THAT THOU COULDST DO.
 59. 
LIX. THEY TELL ME I WAS FALSE TO THEE.
 60. 
LX. I TURNED FROM THE MONITOR.
 61. 
LXI. TO-NIGHT I'LL WEAR AROUND MY HAIR
 62. 
LXII. I SAID, THOUGH ALL THE WORLD BESIDE.
 63. 
LXIII. YES, IN MY SOUL, WITH FOLDED WING.
 64. 
LXIV. I MOURNED THAT TIME TOO SWIFTLY SPED.
 65. 
LXV. THEY COME, THE LIGHT, THE WORLDLY COME.
 66. 
LXVI. SHE SAYS HER HEART IS IN HER KISS.
 67. 
LXVII. IT IS THIS RESTLESS HEART WITHIN.
 68. 
LXVIII. SHE COMES, IN LIGHT AERIAL GRACE.
 69. 
LXIX. “I KNEW HER IN HER HAPPY YOUTH.”
 70. 
LXX. SPEAK, SPEAK TO ME, DARLING.
 71. 
LXXI. WOULD I WERE ONLY A SPIRIT OF SONG!
 72. 
LXXII. IF I WERE A BIRD THAT SINGS.
 73. 
LXXIII. WHEN FORTUNE SMILED.
 74. 
LXXIV. THE ARAB AND HIS STEED.
 75. 
LXXV. I KNOW A STAR.
 76. 
LXXVI. MY HEART IS LIKE THE OCEAN SHELL.
 77. 
LXXVII. THE GODS ONE DAY SENT REASON OUT.
 78. 
LXXVIII. THE FAIRY IN THE SHELL.
 79. 
LXXIX. GOOD-BYE, SWEET DREAM.
 80. 
LXXX. ALL JOY, ALL HOPE, GO WITH YOU.
 81. 
LXXXI. SHE IS FLITTING LIKE A FAIRY.
 82. 
LXXXII. THE BIRD WHOSE SONG IMPASSIONED.
 83. 
LXXXIII. THE FETTER 'NEATH THE FLOWERS.
 84. 
LXXXIV. FOR THEE I BRAID AND BIND MY HAIR.
 85. 
LXXXV. SPEAK NO MORE.
 86. 
LXXXVI. WOULD YOU WOO A LADY FAIR.
 87. 
LXXXVII. A COLD CALM STAR.
 88. 
LXXXVIII. AH CHILDHOOD, SUNNY CHILDHOOD.
 89. 
LXXXIX. I HAVE SOMETHING SWEET TO TELL YOU.
 90. 
XC. “INTERRUPT” ME, LITTLE DARLING.
 91. 
XCI. A DAINTY LYRE WAS LENT TO JOY.
 92. 
XCII. ON MISSION PURE, FROM REALMS DIVINE.
 93. 
XCIII. GIVE ME BACK MY CHILDHOOD'S TRUTH.
 94. 
XCIV. THE WILD WOOD-ROSE.
 95. 
XCV. KEEP, KEEP THE MAIDEN'S DOWRY.
 96. 
XCVI. DOUBTFUL VOWS.
 97. 
XCVII. A PILGRIM HERE, WITH WAITING HEART.
 98. 
XCVIII. THEY BID ME SHUN YOUR BLUSH.
 99. 
XCIX. IF O'ER YOUR CHEEK THE BLUSH THAT PLAYS.
 100. 
C. A CARELESS RILL WAS DREAMING.
 101. 
CI. LOW, MY LUTE—BREATHE LOW.
 102. 
CII. EULALIE.
 103. 
CIII. BENEATH ITALIA'S LAUGHING SKIES.
 104. 
CIV. YOUR HEART IS A MUSIC-BOX, DEAREST!
 105. 
CV. IN CALM DISDAIN I REND THE CHAIN.
 106. 
CVI. AH! WOMAN STILL.
 107. 
CVII. SHE LOVES HIM YET.
 108. 
CVIII. TO THE SNOW-WREATH WHITE.
 109. 
CIX. LEONOR.
 110. 
CX. YES, LOWER TO THE LEVEL.
 111. 
CXI. I GRIEVE TO LET YOU GO, LULI.
 112. 
CXII. I KNOW A NOBLE HEART THAT BEATS.
 113. 
CXIII. THE HAND THAT SWEPT THE SOUNDING LYRE.

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212

CAPRICE.

Reprove me not that still I change
With every changing hour,
For glorious Nature gives me leave
In wave, and cloud, and flower.
And you and all the world would do—
If all but dared—the same;
True to myself—if false to you,
Why should I reck your blame?
Then cease your carping, cousin mine—
Your vain reproaches cease;
I revel in my right divine—
I glory in caprice!
Yon soft, light cloud, at morning hour
Look'd dark and full of tears:
At noon it seem'd a rosy flower—
Now, gorgeous gold appears.
213

So yield I to the deepening light
That dawns around my way:
Because you linger with the night,
Shall I my noon delay?
No! cease your carping, cousin mine—
Your cold reproaches cease;
The chariot of the cloud be mine—
Take thou the reins, Caprice!
'Tis true you play'd on Feeling's lyre
A pleasant tune or two,
And oft beneath your minstrel fire
The hours in music flew;
But when a hand more skill'd to sweep
The harp, its soul allures,
Shall it in sullen silence sleep
Because not touch'd by yours!
Oh, there are rapturous tones in mine
That mutely pray release;
They wait the master-hand divine—
So tune the chords, Caprice!
214

Go—strive the sea-wave to control;
Or, wouldst thou keep me thine,
Be thou all being to my soul,
And fill each want divine:
Play every string in Love's sweet lyre—
Set all its music flowing;
Be air, and dew, and light, and fire,
To keep the soul-flower growing;
Be less—thou art no love of mine,
So leave my love in peace;
'Tis helpless woman's right divine—
Her only right—caprice!
And I will mount her opal car,
And draw the rainbow reins,
And gayly go from star to star,
Till not a ray remains;
And we will find all fairy flowers
That are to mortals given,
And wreathe the radiant, changing hours,
With those “sweet hints” of heaven.
215

Her humming-birds are harness'd there—
Oh! leave their wings in peace;
Like “flying gems” they glance in air—
We'll chase the light, Caprice!
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