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The poetical works of Henry Alford

Fifth edition, containing many pieces now first collected
Alford, Henry (1810-1871)

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[dedication]
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THE SCHOOL OF THE HEART.
 1. 
Lesson the First.
 2. 
Lesson the Second.
 3. 
Lesson the Third.
 4. 
Lesson the Fourth.
 5. 
Lesson the Fifth.
 6. 
Lesson the Sixth.
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POEMS.
  
THE ABBOT OF MUCHELNAYE. (1832-39.)
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THE BALLAD OF GLASTONBURY, (1832.)
  
INTRODUCTION.
 I. 
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 II. 
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 III. 
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 IV. 
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 V. 
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 VI. 
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 VII. 
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 VIII. 
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 IX. 
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 X. 
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 XI. 
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 XII. 
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 XIII. 
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 XIV. 
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 XV. 
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 XVI. 
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 XVII. 
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 XVIII. 
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 XIX. 
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 XX. 
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 XXI. 
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 XXII. 
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 XXIII. 
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 XXIV. 
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 XXV. 
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 XXVI. 
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 XXVII. 
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 XXVIII. 
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 XXIX. 
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 XXX. 
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 XXXI. 
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 XXXII. 
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 XXXIII. 
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THE PASSION OF ST AGNES, (1833.)
  
HYMN TO THE SUN, (1832.)
  
HYMN TO THE SEA, (1832.)
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A DREAM, (1840.)
  
[prologue]
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THE DREAM.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
  
[epilogue]
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PIECES IN BLANK VERSE AND HEROIC MEASURE.
  
MIDNIGHT THOUGHTS, (1830.)
  
WRITTEN JANUARY 1, 1832.
  
WRITTEN IN AN ARTIFICIAL PLEASURE-GROUND, (1834.)
  
PALINODE TO THE FOREGOING.
  
AMPTON, SUFFOLK, (1833.)
  
WRITTEN IN A COPY OF “THE REVOLT OF ISLAM.”
  
LINES WRITTEN OCTOBER 23, 1836,
  
CHRISTMAS EVE, 1836.
  
RYDAL MOUNT, June 1838.
  
A VILLAGE TALE.
  
A SPRING SCENE.
  
APRIL, 1844.
  
NOVEMBER, 1847.
  
A WINTER MORNING SCENE, (1849.)
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LACRYMÆ PATERNÆ, (1851.)
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
  
FRAGMENT OF A PROPOSED DRAMA, 1832.
  
A CRIMEAN THOUGHT.
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SONNETS.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX. TO THE AUTHOR OF THE “RECTORY OF VALEHEAD.”
 X. 
X. TO MARY.
 XI. 
XI. TO THE SAME.
 XII. 
XII. TO WILLIAM JACKSON OF EXETER.
 XIII. 
XIII. THE MENDIP HILLS OVER WELLS.
 XIV. 
XIV. GLASTONBURY.
 XV. 
XV. SUNSET AT BURTON PYNSENT, SOMERSET.
 XVI. 
XVI. RECOLLECTION OF WORDSWORTH'S “RUTH.”
 XVII. 
XVII. AN EVENING IN AUTUMN, NEAR NETHER STOWEY, SOMERSET.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. CULBONE, OR KINTORE, SOMERSET.
 XIX. 
XIX. LINN-CLEEVE, LINTON, DEVON.
 XX. 
XX. WATERS-MEET, LINN, DEVON.
 XXI. 
XXI. SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF EDWARD SPEDDING, WHO DIED SEPTEMBER 3, 1832.
 XXII. 
XXII. THE DYING BED.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. THE DEATH-CHAMBER.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. THE SAME.
 XXV. 
XXV. THE FUNERAL.
 XXVI. 
XXVI.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. HEU QUANTO MINUS EST CUM RELIQUIS VERSARI, QUAM TUI MEMINISSE!
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII.
 XXIX. 
XXIX.
 XXX. 
XXX. ON SEEING OUR FAMILY-VAULT.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. ON THE SAME OCCASION.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. ON HEARING THAT IT IS SUPPOSED, FROM ASTRONOMICAL CONSIDERATIONS, THE WORLD IS YET IN ITS INFANCY.
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. SUGGESTED BY THE OPENING OF THE ŒDIPUS COLONEUS OF SOPHOCLES.
 XXXV. 
XXXV.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. THE GIPSY GIRL.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. TO WINTER. WRITTEN AT AMPTON, SUFFOLK.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. EPIPHANY, 1833.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. TO THE WOOD-PIGEON. WRITTEN IN PASSION-WEEK, 1833.
 XL. 
XL. EASTER-EVE, 1833.
 XLI. 
XLI. IN LAUDEM S. EULALIÆ V. ET M
 XLII. 
XLII.
 XLIII. 
XLIII. THE MALVERN HILLS, MARCH 12, 1835.
 XLIV. 
XLIV. WRITTEN IN AN INTERVAL OF MELANCHOLY FOREBODING RESPECTING THE CHURCH.
 XLV. 
XLV.
 XLVI. 
XLVI.
 XLVII. 
XLVII.
 XLVIII. 
XLVIII.
 XLIX. 
XLIX.
 L. 
L. TO THE RIVER WYE
 LI. 
LI.
 LII. 
LII. TO THE YELLOW CISTUS.
 LIII. 
LIII. HADDON HALL, DERBYSHIRE, (JULY 1836.)
 LIV. 
LIV. STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, (JANUARY 1837.)
 LV. 
LV. ST ROBERT'S CAVE, KNARESBOROUGH, (1838.)
 LVI. 
LVI. WRITTEN AT YORK ON THE DAY OF THE CORONATION OF QUEEN VIOTORIA, JUNE 28, 1838.
 LVII. 
LVII. SUMMIT OF SKIDDAW, JULY 7, 1838.
 LVIII. 
LVIII. DESCENT OF THE SAME.
 LIX. 
LIX. WRITTEN AT AMPTON, SUFFOLK, JANUARY 1838.
 LX. 
LX. WYMESWOLD, APRIL 1837.
 LXI. 
LXI. THE SAME.
 LXII. 
LXII. OF OSTENDE, JUNE 11, 1837.
 LXIII. 
LXIII. BRUGES.
 LXIV. 
LXIV. WRITTEN AT GHENT.
 LXV. 
LXV. ANTWERP CATHEDRAL.
 LXVI. 
LXVI. BRUSSELS.
 LXVII. 
LXVII. WATERLOO.
 LXVIII. 
LXVIII. WRITTEN AT FRANKFORT.
 LXIX. 
LXIX. TO ALICE IN ENGLAND. ALSO WRITTEN AT FRANKFORT.
 LXX. 
LXX. MILAN CATHEDRAL.
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Pictorial Emblems for the Seasons.
 LXXI. 
LXXI. WINTER DREAR AND CHILL, BUT WITHAL MERRY AND FREE.
 LXXII. 
LXXII. SPRING, WHEN YOUNG FLOWERS PEEP, BUT THE FROST NIPPETH KEEN.
 LXXIII. 
LXXIII. SUMMER, WHEN THE PRIME IS REACHED, BUT THERE ARE TOKENS OF DECAY.
 LXXIV. 
LXXIV. AUTUMN, WHOSE FRUITS ENDURE, THOUGH DEATH IS ON IT.
 LXXV. 
LXXV. EPIMENIDES
 LXXVI. 
LXXVI. ARION.
 LXXVII. 
LXXVII.
 LXXVIII. 
LXXVIII.
 LXXIX. 
LXXIX. TO CHARLES MERIVALE
 LXXX. 
LXXX. MY ANCESTORS.
 LXXXI. 
LXXXI. THE TWO LOTS.
 LXXXII. 
LXXXII.
 LXXXIII. 
LXXXIII. TO A FRIEND CONCERNED IN EDUCATION.
 LXXXIV. 
LXXXIV.
 LXXXV. 
LXXXV. ON MY STONE INKSTAND.
 LXXXVI. 
LXXXVI. JANUARY 19, 1839.
 LXXXVII. 
LXXXVII.
 LXXXVIII. 
LXXXVIII.
 LXXXIX. 
LXXXIX.
 XC. 
XC.
 XCI. 
XCI. PASSION-WEEK, 1845.
 XCII. 
XCII. THAT DAY WAS THE PREPARATION, AND THE SABBATH DREW ON.
 XCIII. 
XCIII.
 XCIV. 
XCIV.
 XCV. 
XCV.
 XCVI. 
XCVI. ASCENSION DAY, 1845.
 XCVII. 
XCVII. THE CHURCH IN THE PARK.
 XCVIII. 
XCVIII.
 XCIX. 
XCIX. DAY BY DAY WE MAGNIFY THEE.
 C. 
C.
 CI. 
CI. OUR EARLY FRIENDS. (1849.)
 CII, CIII. 
CII., CIII. NOTTINGHAM MECHANICS' EXHIBITION, 1840.
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LYRICAL PIECES.
  
A NIGHT SCENE.
  
AUGUST 19, 1830.
  
FEBRUARY 3, 1830.
  
1830.
  
PORTSMOUTH, 1830.
  
LAST WORDS. (1831.)
  
ANTICIPATION. (1832.)
  
LADY MARY. (1832.)
  
1832.
  
TO A DROP OF DEW. (1832.)
  
TO A MOUNTAIN STREAM. (1832.)
  
ON THE AGED OAK
  
ON THE EVENING OF A VILLAGE FESTIVAL. (1832.)
  
[“Father, wake—the storm is loud]
  
THE ANCIENT MAN.
  
A DOUBT. (1832.)
  
PEACE. (1832.)
  
TO-MORROW. (1832.)
  
AMOR MUNDANUS. (1833.)
  
AMOR CŒLESTIS. (1833.)
  
AMPTON, SUFFOLK. (1833.)
  
THE LITTLE MOURNER. (1833.)
  
WRITTEN IN AID OF THE LEICESTER LUNATIC ASYLUM. (1836.)
  
WRITTEN ON CHRISTMAS EVE, 1836.
  
INSCRIPTION
  
TO A MOONBEAM BY OUR FIRESIDE.
  
AN EASTER ODE. (1838.)
  
A WISH. (1838.)
  
THE DEAD.
  
FEBRUARY 10, 1840.
  
THE NATIONAL PRAYER.
  
THE DIRGE OF THE PASSING YEAR. (1840.)
  
INSCRIPTION.
  
TO ALICE, MARY, AMBROSE, AND CLEMENT.
  
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER WEEK, 1844.
  
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER, 1844.
  
FAITH. (1844.)
  
BALLAD. (1845.)
  
1846.
  
THE SALZBURG CHIMES.
  
A TRUANT HOUR.
  
HENRY MARTYN AT SHIRAZ. (1851.)
  
DE PROFUNDIS. (1852.)
  
ON A CYCLAMEN.
  
HOW WE BURIED HIM. (1859.)
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POEMS NOW FIRST COLLECTED.
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FRAGMENTS OF A LONG-PONDERED POEM. (1852.)
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
  
THE END OF A CHARADE. (1855.)
  
IN A LETTER FROM SCOTLAND
  
TWO FRAGMENTS. (1857.)
  
FILIO DESIDERATISSIMO. (1859.)
  
WRITTEN UNDER A WATER-COLOUR SKETCH OF BELIDDEN COVE, CORNWALL,
  
THE LAND'S END. (1860.)
  
LIFE'S QUESTION. (1861.)
  
LIFE'S ANSWER. (1862.)
  
A LETTER TO AMERICA.
  
EVENING HEXAMETERS. (1863.)
  
A GREETING TO SPRING. (1863.)
  
BE JUST AND FEAR NOT. (1863.)
  
FILIOLÆ DULCISSIMÆ. AN EASTER OFFERING. (1863.)
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THE SEASONS: A MASQUE.
 I. 
Part I.
 II. 
Part II.
 III. 
Part III.
 IV. 
Part IV.

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173

XXXV.

['Twere better far from noon to eventide]

'Twere better far from noon to eventide
To sit and feel sad care, and fence the while
The patient spirit for unwonted toil,
Than in the calm for ever to abide;
'Twere better far to climb the mountain-side
Through perilous buffeting of wind and steep
Than in the valley-nook, charmed into sleep,
All the fair blossoms of young life to hide.
So let me labour: for 'tis labour-worth
To feel the fruits of my seed-time of tears
Shedding their fragrance over half this earth;
No mother rues the sharpest pangs of birth,
So she may see the offspring of her fears
Standing in high estate and manly years.
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