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Poems on Various Subjects

By John Thelwall. In Two Volumes
Thelwall, John (1764-1834)

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[section]
  
[epigraph]
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VOL I
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POEMS.
  
EDMUND AND ROSALINDA.
  
ALLEN AND MATILDA.
  
ELWIN AND ANNA.
  
THE HERMIT OF THE RUINED PALACE.
  
THE ZEPHYRS.
  
THE METAMORPHOSES.
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THE SEDUCER; ;
 1. 
Canto the First.
 2. 
Canto the Second.
  
Canto the Third.
 4. 
Canto the Fourth.
 V. 
Canto the Fifth.
  
THE RED-BREAST; :
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Vol. II.
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A DRAMATIC POEM, FOUNDED ON FACTS, RECORDED IN THE REPORTS OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY.
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ACT I.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
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ACT II.
 [I]. 
[SCENE I.]
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
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SCENE IV.
  
[section]
 I. 
STROPHE I.
 I. 
ANTISTROPHE I.
 I. 
EPODE I.
 II. 
STROPHE II.
 II. 
ANTISTROPHE II.
 II. 
EPODE II.
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ACT III.
 [I]. 
[SCENE I.]
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
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ACT IV.
 I. 
SCENE I.
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ACT V.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
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ELEGIES, PASTORALS, AND OTHER RURAL POEMS.
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ELEGIES.
 I. 
ELEGY I. The ROSE.
 II. 
ELEGY II. The INVALID.
 III. 
ELEGY III. DESPONDENCY.
 IV. 
ELEGY IV. The MUSE.
 V. 
ELEGY V. The PERSON.
 VI. 
ELEGY VI. The LARK.
 VII. 
ELEGY VII. The CONSOLATION.
 VIII. 
ELEGY VIII. The EXECRATION.
 IX. 
ELEGY IX. TWELFTH DAY.
 X. 
ELEGY X. NEW YEAR'S NIGHT
 XI. 
ELEGY XI. The DEPARTED FRIEND.
 XII. 
ELEGY XII. The SWALLOWS.
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PASTORALS.
 I. 
ECLOGUE I. THE TEARS OF HOBBINOL.
 II. 
ECLOGUE II. THE WEEPING LYRE.
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RURAL POEMS.
  
A NOSEGAY.
  
The ROSE.
  
The SPRIG of HAWTHORN.
  
The WOODBINES.
  
The VIOLET.
  
The COWSLIP.
  
The LILY of the VALLEY.
  
[THUS to Reflection's sober train]
  
The TURTLES NEST.
  
EXTEMPORE.
  
SONG.
  
AMBITION AND HUMILITY.
  
SONNET.
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MISCELLANIES.
  
CONTENT.
  
MODERN VIRTUE CONTRASTED WITH ANCIENT IMPIETY.
  
On a Dog laying his Head in the Lap of a Lady, while she was playing on an Harpsichord, and singing.
  
THE SHRINE OF HOWARD.
  
THE TEARS OF THE GENII
  
ODE TO FANCY.
  
EPILOGUE.

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AMBITION AND HUMILITY.

When first this infant rose I spied,
Just op'ning to the laughing day,
In all her gaudy vestments gay,
And bright in blushing pride,
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Exalted on her stem she shin'd,
To public notice far display'd;
While this, as of the sun afraid,
In shelter low reclin'd.
Then thus I sung, in thoughtless strain:
“If charms or merit are not shown,
“What boots it that we either own?
“They're idle gifts and vain!
“This rose, close shrouded by the briar,
“And hanging humbly near the ground,
“To rival this, which shines around,
“For beauty might aspire.
“But thus obscur'd, alas! how few
“Her glowing beauties shall survey,
“Which if aloft she would display
“Would charm each trav'ller's view.”
But ah! behold a blighting wind
Has cropt the lofty flow'ret short;
To earth its flaunting beauties brought,
Where fading 'tis reclin'd!
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While, shelter'd by its humble choice,
The prudent blossom safe remains,
And thus, to the surrounding plains
“Exerts her modest voice:
“Let not ambition fire your hearts,
“Ah pant not for a lofty state;
“For sudden dangers wait the great,
“And many fatal arts.
“There Envy, Calumny await,
“Misfortune rides on ev'ry gale;
“While, in Contentment's humble vale,
“We shun the storms of Fate.”
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