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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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217

THE POET'S REPLY TO UNDESERVED PRAISE.

I wrong not so your noble heart,
As fear you'd play the flatterer's part,
Though far from all desert in me
Your soul-inspiring praises be.
The star that sees, within the lake,
Its own illumined image wake,
May deem some sea-born gem has risen
To greet it from its darkling prison.
And well I know the ardent mind,
Where honour's self is proudly shrined,
O'er others sheds its radiance rare,
And deems the light is native there.
Yet I must shrink, in shame and pride,
From praise by conscience still denied,
And rather half your faith forego
Than lure it by a hollow show.
218

And since not all is dark within,
Some dear esteem I still may win,
Divested of the halo thrown,
By your warm heart, around my own.
And truth to tell, (you'd have me true?)
I look for loftier gifts from you,
And wait for music sweeter far
Than softest words of flattery are.
The lightest modulation lent
By heart to voice on truth intent,—
The faintest cadence Love lets fall
On one low tone, is worth them all.
And oh! so high a hope is mine!—
The boon my spirit claims from thine
Is not the fleeting love of earth,
But friendship that has holier birth.
When soul meets soul in happier clime,
Where truth unveil'd shall walk sublime,
How may my conscious spirit brook
The frank, calm questioning of your look,
219

If vainly, in its form and face,
You seek for some imagined grace,
And miss the beauty, rare and dear,
Your own rich fancy lent it here!
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