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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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54

THE PRISONER IN THE HOUSE OF LIFE.

OUR house of Life that hath been built so long,
That is so fitly stored, whose plan denies
That it shall further wax in worth or size,
Yet stands on its foundations, fair and strong.
But what of these swift motions that still throng
Its courts, these longings, these disquietudes,
As of a restless presence that still broods,
Or prisoner making protest against wrong?
We stand a-gaze before each door of sense;
Or are we eyeless, or is nought to see?
We turn within, and straight upon the tense
Rack of blind hunger for some thing to be,
Are stretched again: this consciousness of night,
Is't of a spirit travailing with sight?
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