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University of Virginia Library

Poems

By Edward Dowden

Dowden, Edward (1843-1913)

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IN THE GALLERIES

I.

I. THE APOLLO BELVEDERE

II.

II. THE VENUS OF MELOS

III.

III. ANTINOUS CROWNED AS BACCHUS

IV.

IV. LEONARDO'S “MONNA LISA”

V.

V. ST LUKE PAINTING THE VIRGIN

“LA RÉVÉLATION PAR LE DÉSERT”

THE MORNING STAR

A CHILD'S NOONDAY SLEEP

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I.

II.

III.

III. AN INTERIOR

IV.

V.

V. A SUMMER MOON

VI.

VII.

VII. EARLY AUTUMN

VIII.

VIII. LATER AUTUMN

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I.

I. THE ASSUMPTION

II.

II. THE ARTIST'S WAITING

III.

III. COUNSELLORS

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VII. NEWS FOR LONDON

AMONG THE ROCKS

A SONG OF THE NEW DAY

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MEMORIALS OF TRAVEL

I.

II.

II. IN A MOUNTAIN PASS

III.

III. THE CASTLE

IV.

IV. Αισθητιχη φαντασια

V.

V. ON THE SEA-CLIFF

VI.

VI. ASCETIC NATURE

VII.

VIII.

VIII. ON THE PIER OF BOULOGNE

IX.

IN THE TWILIGHT

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I.

II.

III.

III. SEEKING GOD

IV.

IV. DARWINISM IN MORALS

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

VIII. A SONNET FOR THE TIMES

IX.

X.

XI.

XI. DELIVERANCE

XII.

XII. PARADISE LOST

THE RESTING PLACE

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NEW HYMNS FOR SOLITUDE

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

IN THE CATHEDRAL CLOSE

THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE:

BEAU RIVAGE HOTEL

IN A JUNE NIGHT

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FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER

I.

II.

II TWO INFINITIES

III.

IV.

IV. THE SKYLARK

V.

V. THE MILL-RACE

VI.

VI. IN THE WOOD

VII.

VII. THE PAUSE OF EVENING

VIII.

IX.

IX. IN SEPTEMBER

X.

X. IN THE WINDOW

XI.

XI. AN AUTUMN MORNING

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ABOARD THE “SEA-SWALLOW”

IN THE MOUNTAINS

“THE TOP OF A HILL CALLED CLEAR”

SPEAKERS TO GOD

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MISCELLANEOUS SONNETS

A DAY OF DEFECTION

SONG AND SILENCE

MICHELANGELESQUE

TO A CHILD DEAD AS SOON AS BORN

WISE PASSIVENESS

THE SINGER'S PLEA

PROMETHEUS UNBOUND

THE MODERN ELIJAH

DAVID AND MICHAL

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I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

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MISCELLANEOUS POEMS OF LATER DATES

THE DIVINING ROD

WHERE WERT THOU?

WINTER NOONTIDE

THE DESIRE TO GIVE

A BEECH-TREE IN WINTER

DÜRER'S “MELENCHOLIA”

MILLET'S “THE SOWER”

AT MULLION (CORNWALL)

THE WINNOWER TO THE WINDS

SENT TO AN AMERICAN SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY

NOCTURNE

PARADISE LOST AND FOUND

AFTER METASTASIO

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I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

IN THE CATHEDRAL

EDGAR ALLAN POE

DEUS ABSCONDITUS

FLOWERS FROM THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

IMITATED FROM J. SOULARY'S “LE FOSSOYEUR”

IMITATED FROM GOETHE'S “GANYMEDE”

WITH A COPY OF MY “POEMS”

PROLOGUE TO MAURICE GEROTHWOHL'S VERSION OF VIGNY'S “CHATTERTON”

THE DROPS OF NECTAR. 1789

AMOR AS LANDSCAPE-PAINTER

IMITATED FROM GOETHE'S “ALEXIS AND DORA”

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191

NOCTURNE

Ere sleep upheaves me on one glassy billow
To drift me down the deep,
I lie with easeful head upon my pillow,
Letting the minutes creep.

Until Time's pulse is stayed and all earth's riot
Fades in a limit white,
While over me curve fragrant wings of quiet
Tender and great as Night.

Then I gaze up. Divine, descending slumber
Thine access yet forbear,
Though vow I proffer none, nor blessings number,
Nor breathe a wordless prayer.

A Presence is within me and above me,
That takes me for its own,
A Motherhood, a bosom prompt to love me,
I know it and am known.

So softly I roll back the Spirit's portals;
O be the entrance wide!
Silence and light from home of my Immortals
Flow in, a tranquil tide.

Calming, assuaging, cleansing, freshening, freeing,
It floods each inlet deep;
Now pass thou wave of Light, ebb thought and being!
Come thou dark wave of sleep!