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Sonnets

By Emily Pfeiffer: Revised and Enlarged Ed.
Pfeiffer, Emily (1827-1890)

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[section]
  
DEDICATION TO J. E. P.
  
ENVOY TO C. R. AND M. L.
  
THE PALMER LOVE.
  
ETNA.
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ASPIRATION.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
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LEARN OF THE DOG.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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THE LOST LIGHT.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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A PLEA.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
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HELLAS.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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SHELLEY.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
  
INVOCATION.
  
INVOCATION.
  
A REMINISCENCE.
  
THE JOY OF JOYS.
  
THE SORROW OF SORROWS.
  
TO THE MOURNERS OF LOVE.
  
WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT.
  
A WIND FROM OFF THE SEA.
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TO NATURE
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
  
PAST AND FUTURE.
  
BROKEN SPEECH.
  
TO THE BLIND ARCHITECT OF THE CITY OF LIFE
  
TO A MOTH THAT DRINKETH OF THE RIPE OCTOBER.
  
THE WINGED SOUL.
  
THE GOSPEL OF DREAD TIDINGS.
  
DREAMING.
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ON HEARING THE INTRODUCTION TO “LOHENGRIN.”
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
  
A CHRYSALIS.
  
THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT.
  
AN INVOCATION.
  
THE “STING OF DEATH.”
  
TO L. C. SMITH.
  
AMONG THE GLACIERS.
  
ON THE THUNER SEE.
  
THE HUNGER OF LIFE.
  
EVOLUTION.
  
LOVE AND JOY.
  
LOVE AND SORROW.
  
THE PRISONER IN THE HOUSE OF LIFE.
  
ON LOCH KATRINE.
  
AMONG THE HEBRIDES.
  
TO THE HERALD HONEYSUCKLE.
  
TO IMMORTAL MUSIC.
  
TRANSFIGURATION.
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TO THE FRIENDS OF LOVE.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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[subsection]
 I. 
I.FALLEN FROM GRACE.
 II. 
II.UNDER THE ROSE.
  
ON GUARD.
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[subsection]
 I. 
I.TO A FLEDGLING ROBIN.
 II. 
II.TO THE SAME, ON BEGINNING HIS SONG.
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STUDIES FROM THE ANTIQUE.
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KASSANDRA.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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KLYTEMNESTRA.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TO DR. WILHELM JORDAN.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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[subsection]
 I. 
I.IN LOVE'S ECLIPSE.
 II. 
II.LOVE THE REVEALER.
  
A PARTNERSHIP.
  
TO E. BURNE JONES, ON HIS PICTURE OF THE ANNUNCIATION.
  
SUGGESTED BY THE PICTURE OF THE ANNUNCIATION, BY E. BURNE JONES.
  
KING COPHETUA AND THE BEGGAR MAID.
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[subsection]
 I. 
I.LOVE AND DEATH.
 II. 
II.LOVE AND LIFE.
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CAIN AND ABEL.
 I. 
I.CAIN AND ABEL.
 II. 
II.OUTCAST CAIN.
 III. 
III.CAIN REPENTANT.
  
HOPE.
  
DEAF.
  
MID-OCEAN.
  
NIAGARA.
  
BEATING THE AIR.
  
THE SOUDAN.
  
GORDON.
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A PROTEST.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
  
THE COMING DAY.
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[subsection]
 I. 
I.THE SOUL'S PRAYER.
 II. 
II.THE SOUL'S PRIDE.
  
WEARIHEAD.
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SIX 14-LINE POEMS.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
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[section]
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A SYMPHONY OF SONNETS. I. TO X.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.

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7

III.

All creatures eagle-born and eagle-taught,
Whose nests are set upon the giddy height,
Who fear the dread abyss, but love the light,
And sheer through love and pain to trust are brought;
How is it when ye, too, are overwrought,
Seized with love-madness, and in upward flight
Quit the sure world to hold the sun in sight?
How fares it with ye when, no sole ray caught
Or kept of him, ye drop again to earth?
What are your lives the better of the sun?
And if, as well may be, you should give birth
To others soaring higher, what were won?
No answer,—but wide wings and hearts aglow;
The sun is there, he draws them, and they go!
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