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University of Virginia Library

Sonnets

By Emily Pfeiffer: Revised and Enlarged Ed.

Pfeiffer, Emily (1827-1890)

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DEDICATION TO J. E. P.

ENVOY TO C. R. AND M. L.

THE PALMER LOVE.

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I.

II.

III.

IV.

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LEARN OF THE DOG.

I.

II.

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THE LOST LIGHT.

I.

II.

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I.

II.

III.

IV.

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I.

II.

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I.

II.

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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I.

II.

III.

IV.

PAST AND FUTURE.

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.

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ON HEARING THE INTRODUCTION TO “LOHENGRIN.”

I.

II.

THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT.

THE “STING OF DEATH.”

TO L. C. SMITH.

AMONG THE GLACIERS.

ON THE THUNER SEE.

THE HUNGER OF LIFE.

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.

II.

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I.

I.FALLEN FROM GRACE.

II.

II.UNDER THE ROSE.

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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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I.

II.

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I.

II.

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TO DR. WILHELM JORDAN.

I.

II.

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I.

I.IN LOVE'S ECLIPSE.

II.

II.LOVE THE REVEALER.

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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I.

I.LOVE AND DEATH.

II.

II.LOVE AND LIFE.

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I.

I.CAIN AND ABEL.

II.

II.OUTCAST CAIN.

III.

III.CAIN REPENTANT.

BEATING THE AIR.

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I.

II.

III.

THE COMING DAY.

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I.

I.THE SOUL'S PRAYER.

II.

II.THE SOUL'S PRIDE.

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SIX 14-LINE POEMS.

I.

II.

III.

V.

VI.

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A SYMPHONY OF SONNETS. I. TO X.

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

X.

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65

I.TO A FLEDGLING ROBIN.

ROBIN, thou art too young as yet to wear
The badge of robinhood in full confest—
The burning breast-plate on the conscious breast—
And hast not learnt to build, to sing, or care;
Only to live, filled with the liberal air,
Which, when it gently breathed from south or west,
Found and o'erflowed thee in thy sheltered nest
To dwell as marrow in thy feathers fair.

I, weary thinker 'neath the aspen trees,
See thee win past me, lightsome as a bubble—
No labouring bark, with purblind thought to steer it,
But a plumed will that rules with sovereign ease;
Approach, glad life, as free of doubt as trouble—
I feel as if in presence of a spirit.

66

II.TO THE SAME, ON BEGINNING HIS SONG.

SIT at my table, welcome guest, and sing
The olden song, with young unpractised throat;
I hold my breath to hear the perfect note
Thy tender organs cannot yet make ring.
Sing to me, unpaired fledgling of the spring,
Sing, solace me, as if I were thy mate;
Teach me fond patience as I sit and wait,
Brooding quick thoughts with unprogressive wing.

Thy song is faint as breath of unblown flowers,
And only that it shakes thy budding breast,
I could have deemed it homeless; as I hear it,
With lowered eyelids and suspended powers,
I, too, from doubt, and toil, and strain find rest,
And, Spirit! seem to hear thee in the spirit.