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Poems, Dialogues in Verse and Epigrams

By Walter Savage Landor: Edited with notes by Charles G. Crump
Landor, Walter Savage (1775-1864)

collapse section1. 
FIRST VOLUME DRAMATIC SCENES.
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COUNT JULIAN.
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FIRST ACT
 1. 
FIRST SCENE.
 2. 
SECOND SCENE.
 3. 
THIRD SCENE.
 4. 
FOURTH SCENE.
 5. 
FIFTH SCENE.
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SECOND ACT
 1. 
FIRST SCENE.
 2. 
SECOND SCENE.
 3. 
THIRD SCENE.
 4. 
FOURTH SCENE.
 5. 
FIFTH SCENE.
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THIRD ACT
 1. 
FIRST SCENE.
 2. 
SECOND SCENE.
 3. 
THIRD SCENE.
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FOURTH ACT
 1. 
FIRST SCENE.
 2. 
SECOND SCENE.
 3. 
THIRD SCENE.
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FIFTH ACT
 1. 
FIRST SCENE.
 2. 
SECOND SCENE.
 3. 
THIRD SCENE.
 4. 
FOURTH SCENE.
 5. 
FIFTH SCENE.
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IPPOLITO DI ESTE.
 1. 
[FIRST PART.]
 2. 
SECOND PART.
  
THE SHADES OF AGAMEMNON AND IPHIGENEIA.
  
THE DEATH OF CLYTEMNESTRA.
  
THE MADNESS OF ORESTES.
  
THE PRAYER OF ORESTES.
  
THE PRIESTESS OF APOLLO.
  
WALTER TYRREL AND WILLIAM RUFUS.
  
THE PARENTS OF LUTHER.
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ANDREA OF HUNGARY, GIOVANNA OF NAPLES, AND FRA RUPERT: A TRILOGY.
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ANDREA OF HUNGARY.
  
PROLOGUE.
collapse sectionI. 
ACT I.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
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ACT II.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
 VI. 
SCENE VI.
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ACT III.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
 VI. 
SCENE VI.
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ACT IV.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
 VI. 
SCENE VI.
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ACT V.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
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GIOVANNA OF NAPLES.
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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.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
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ACT III.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
collapse sectionIV. 
ACT IV.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
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ACT V.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
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FRA RUPERT.
collapse sectionI. 
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.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
 VI. 
SCENE VI.
 VII. 
SCENE VII.
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ACT III
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
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ACT IV.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
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ACT V.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
 VI. 
SCENE VI.
 VII. 
SCENE VII.
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THE SIEGE OF ANCONA.
collapse sectionI. 
ACT I.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
collapse sectionII. 
ACT II.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
collapse sectionIII. 
ACT III.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
collapse sectionIV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
collapse sectionIV. 
ACT IV.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
  
[section]
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
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ACT V.
 I. 
SCENE I.
 II. 
SCENE II.
 III. 
SCENE III.
 IV. 
SCENE IV.
 V. 
SCENE V.
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ANTONY AND OCTAVIUS.
 1. 
SCENE THE FIRST.
 2. 
SCENE THE SECOND.
 3. 
SCENE THE THIRD.
 4. 
SCENE THE FOURTH.
 5. 
SCENE THE FIFTH.
 6. 
SCENE THE SIXTH.
 7. 
SCENE THE SEVENTH.
 8. 
SCENE THE EIGHTH.
 9. 
SCENE THE NINTH.
 10. 
SCENE THE TENTH.
 11. 
SCENE THE ELEVENTH.
 12. 
SCENE THE TWELFTH.
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SECOND VOLUME POEMS AND EPIGRAMS.
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GEBIR.
 I. 
FIRST BOOK.
 2. 
SECOND BOOK.
 3. 
THIRD BOOK.
 4. 
FOURTH BOOK.
 5. 
FIFTH BOOK.
 6. 
SIXTH BOOK.
 7. 
SEVENTH BOOK.
  
FROM THE PHOCÆANS.
  
CHRYSAOR.
  
REGENERATION.
  
TO CORINTH.
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POEMS AND EPIGRAMS CHIEFLY FROM THE COLLECTION OF 1846.
  
[O friends! who have accompanied thus far]
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III. WITH PETRARCA'S SONNETS.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V. TWELFTH-NIGHT.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII.
 XVIII. 
XVIII.
 XIX. 
XIX.
 XX. 
XX.
 XXI. 
XXI.
 XXII. 
XXII.
 XXIII. 
XXIII.
 XXIV. 
XXIV.
 XXV. 
XXV.
 XXVI. 
XXVI.
 XXVII. 
XXVII.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII.
 XXIX. 
XXIX.
 XXX. 
XXX.
 XXXI. 
XXXI.
 XXXII. 
XXXII.
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV.
 XXXV. 
XXXV.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX.
 XL. 
XL.
 XLI. 
XLI.
 XLII. 
XLII. IANTHE'S LETTER.
 XLIII. 
XLIII.
 XLIV. 
XLIV.
 XLV. 
XLV.
 XLVI. 
XLVI.
 XLVII. 
XLVII.
 XLVIII. 
XLVIII.
 XLIX. 
XLIX.
 L. 
L.
 LI. 
LI.
 LII. 
LII.
 LIII. 
LIII.
 LIV. 
LIV.
 LV. 
LV. TO LOVE.
 LVI. 
LVI.
 LVII. 
LVII.
 LVIII. 
LVIII.
 LIX. 
LIX.
 LX. 
LX.
 LXI. 
LXI.
 LXII. 
LXII.
 LXIII. 
LXIII.
 LXIV. 
LXIV.
 LXV. 
LXV.
 LXVI. 
LXVI.
 LXVII. 
LXVII.
 LXVIII. 
LXVIII.
 LXIX. 
LXIX.
 LXX. 
LXX. THE PROGRESS OF EVENING.
 LXXI. 
LXXI.
 LXXII. 
LXXII.
 LXXIII. 
LXXIII.
 LXXIV. 
LXXIV. WRITTEN IN WALES.
 LXXV. 
LXXV.
 LXXVI. 
LXXVI.
 LXXVII. 
LXXVII.
 LXXVIII. 
LXXVIII. FOR AN URN IN THORESBY PARK.
 LXXIX. 
LXXIX. ON READING IN A NEWSPAPER THE DEATH OF A MOTHER AND THREE CHILDREN.
 LXXX. 
LXXX.
 LXXXI. 
LXXXI.
 LXXXII. 
LXXXII. ON A POET IN A WELSH CHURCHYARD.
 LXXXIII. 
LXXXIII.
 LXXXIV. 
LXXXIV.
 LXXXV. 
LXXXV.
 LXXXVI. 
LXXXVI.
 LXXXVII. 
LXXXVII.
 LXXXVIII. 
LXXXVIII.
 LXXXIX. 
LXXXIX.
 XC. 
XC.
 XCI. 
XCI.
 XCII. 
XCII.
 XCIII. 
XCIII.
 XCIV. 
XCIV.
 XCV. 
XCV.
 XCVI. 
XCVI.
 XCVII. 
XCVII.
 XCVIII. 
XCVIII.
 XCIX. 
XCIX.
 C. 
C.
 CI. 
CI.
 CII. 
CII.
 CIII. 
CIII.
 CIV. 
CIV.
 CV. 
CV.
 CVI. 
CVI. ON RECEIVING A BOOK TO WRITE IN.
 CVII. 
CVII. A SEA-SHELL SPEAKS.
 CVIII. 
CVIII.
 CIX. 
CIX.
 CX. 
CX. ON RECEIVING A PORTRAIT.
 CXI. 
CXI.
 CXII. 
CXII. SENT TO A LADY WITH FLOWERS.
 CXIII. 
CXIII.
 CXIV. 
CXIV. ON HAIR FALLING OFF AFTER AN ILLNESS.
 CXV. 
CXV.
 CXVI. 
CXVI. FAREWELL TO ITALY.
 CXVII. 
CXVII.
 CXVIII. 
CXVIII. TO ONE WHO SAID SHE SHOULD LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
 CXIX. 
CXIX. ON AN ECLIPSE OF THE MOON.
 CXX. 
CXX. ON SHAKESPEARE.
 CXXI. 
CXXI.
 CXXII. 
CXXII.
 CXXIII. 
CXXIII.
 CXXIV. 
CXXIV.
 CXXV. 
CXXV. TO LADY CALDWELL.
 CXXVI. 
CXXVI.
 CXXVII. 
CXXVII.
 CXXVIII. 
CXXVIII. CHRISTMAS HOLLY.
 CXXIX. 
CXXIX.
 CXXX. 
CXXX.
 CXXXI. 
CXXXI. FOR THE ALBUM OF THE DUCHESS DE GUICHE.
 CXXXII. 
CXXXII.
 CXXXIII. 
CXXXIII. LINES TO A DRAGON-FLY.
 CXXXIV. 
CXXXIV.
 CXXXV. 
CXXXV.
 CXXXVI. 
CXXXVI.
 CXXXVII. 
CXXXVII.
 CXXXVIII. 
CXXXVIII. TO A SPANIEL.
 CXXXIX. 
CXXXIX.
 CXL. 
CXL. ON SEEING A HAIR OF LUCRETIA BORGIA.
 CXLI. 
CXLI. ON MIGNIONETTE.
 CXLII. 
CXLII.
 CXLIII. 
CXLIII. WRITTEN ON THE RHINE.
 CXLIV. 
CXLIV. MALVOLIO.
 CXLV. 
CXLV. WITH AN ALBUM.
 CXLVI. 
CXLVI.
 CXLVII. 
CXLVII. WRITTEN AT MR RAWSON'S, WAS-WATER LAKE.
 CXLVIII. 
CXLVIII.
 CXLIX. 
CXLIX.
 CL. 
CL.
 CLI. 
CLI.
 CLII. 
CLII.
 CLIII. 
CLIII. ON THE DECEASE OF MRS ROSENHAGEN.
 CLIV. 
CLIV.
 CLV. 
CLV.
 CLVI. 
CLVI.
 CLVII. 
CLVII.
 CLVIII. 
CLVIII.
 CLIX. 
CLIX. THE DEAD MARTEN.
 CLX. 
CLX.
 CLXI. 
CLXI.
 CLXII. 
CLXII.
 CLXIII. 
CLXIII.
 CLXIV. 
CLXIV.
 CLXV. 
CLXV. ON RECEIVING A MONTHLY ROSE.
 CLXVI. 
CLXVI.
 CLXVII. 
CLXVII.
 CLXVIII. 
CLXVIII. TO A LADY ON COMING OF AGE.
 CLXIX. 
CLXIX.
 CLXX. 
CLXX.
 CLXXI. 
CLXXI.
 CLXXII. 
CLXXII. ON A QUAKER'S TANKARD.
 CLXXIII. 
CLXXIII. INVOCATION TO THE MUSE.
 CLXXIV. 
CLXXIV. EPITHALAMIUM.
 CLXXV. 
CLXXV.
 CLXXVI. 
CLXXVI.
 CLXXVII. 
CLXXVII. OLD STYLE.
 CLXXVIII. 
CLXXVIII. SUGGESTED BY HORACE.
 CLXXIX. 
CLXXIX.
 CLXXX. 
CLXXX.
 CLXXXI. 
CLXXXI. COTTAGE LEFT FOR LONDON.
 CLXXXII. 
CLXXXII.
 CLXXXIII. 
CLXXXIII.
 CLXXXIV. 
CLXXXIV.
 CLXXXV. 
CLXXXV. FLOWERS SENT IN BAY-LEAVES.
 CLXXXVI. 
CLXXXVI.
 CLXXXVII. 
CLXXXVII.
 CLXXXVIII. 
CLXXXVIII.
 CLXXXIX. 
CLXXXIX.
 CXC. 
CXC.
 CXCI. 
CXCI.
 CXCII. 
CXCII.
 CXCIII. 
CXCIII.
 CXCIV. 
CXCIV.
 CXCV. 
CXCV. A MASK ON A RING.
 CXCVI. 
CXCVI.
 CXCVII. 
CXCVII.
 CXCVIII. 
CXCVIII.
 CXCIX. 
CXCIX. TO JULIUS HARE, WITH “PERICLES AND ASPASIA.”
 CC. 
CC. TO SOUTHEY.
 CCI. 
CCI. LINES ON THE DEATH OF CHARLES LAMB.
 CCII. 
CCII. TO ANDREW JACKSON.
 CCIII. 
CCIII. TO WORDSWORTH.
 CCIV. 
CCIV. TO THE COMTESSE DE MOLANDE, ABOUT TO MARRY THE DUC DE LUXEMBOURG.
 CCV. 
CCV. TO THE COUNTESS OF BLESSINGTON.
 CCVI. 
CCVI.
 CCVII. 
CCVII. TO LADY CHARLES BEAUCLERK.
 CCVIII. 
CCVIII. TO MY DAUGHTER.
 CCIX. 
CCIX. TO ANDREW CROSSE.
 CCX. 
CCX. TO A LADY.
 CCXI. 
CCXI. TO CZARTORYSKI, ATTENDING ON FOOT THE FUNERAL OF THE POET MENINCIVICZ.
 CCXII. 
CCXII. TO MY DAUGHTER IN ITALY, AT CHRISTMAS.
 CCXIII. 
CCXIII. TO MISS ISABELLA PERCY.
 CCXIV. 
CCXIV. TO CHARLES DICKENS.
 CCXV. 
CCXV. TO SOUTHEY, 1833.
 CCXVI. 
CCXVI. TO BARRY CORNWALL.
 CCXVII. 
CCXVII. TO MAJOR-GENERAL W. NAPIER.
 CCXVIII. 
CCXVIII. TO MATHEW AND WOLFF.
 CCXIX. 
CCXIX. TO JOHN KENYON.
 CCXX. 
CCXX. TO ROBERT BROWNING.
 CCXXI. 
CCXXI. TO THE SISTER OF ELIA.
 CCXXII. 
CCXXII. TO JOSEPH ABLETT.
 CCXXIII. 
CCXXIII. TO EMMA ISOLA.
 CCXXIV. 
CCXXIV. TO A PAINTER.
 CCXXV. 
CCXXV. FOR AN EPITAPH AT FIESOLE.
 CCXXVI. 
CCXXVI. TO A BRIDE, FEB. 17, 1846.
 CCXXVII. 
CCXXVII. TO JOHN FORSTER.
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POEMS FROM PERICLES AND ASPASIA AND OTHER PROSE WORKS.
  
PERICLES TO ASPASIA.
  
SOCRATES TO ASPASIA.
  
ASPASIA TO SOCRATES.
  
CORINNA TO TANAGRA.
  
FROM MIMNERMUS.
  
HEGEMON TO PRAXINOE.
  
FROM MYRTIS.
  
TO EROS.
  
THE DEATH OF ARTEMIDORA.
  
ALETHEIA TO PHRAORTES.
  
TO ARDALIA.
  
WAR.
  
CUPID TEARING A ROSE-BUD.
  
A FAUN TO ERIOPIS.
  
CLEONE TO ASPASIA.
  
THE IAMBICS OF HEPHÆSTION.
  
TO PERILLA.
  
FROM ALCAEUS.
  
ON AGE.
  
ODE TO MILETUS.
  
ERINNA TO LOVE.
  
SAPPHO TO HESPERUS.
  
TO HESPERUS.
  
TO PYRRHA.
  
TO MY CHILD CARLINO.
  
INVOCATION TO SLEEP.
  
POET AND LADY.
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FROM THE LAST FRUIT OFF AN OLD TREE.
  
[I strove with none; for none was worth my strife]
 I. 
I. ON CATULLUS.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII. YOUNG.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI. TO AN OLD MULBERRY TREE.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII. THE DUKE OF YORK'S STATUE.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. THE DEATH OF MADAME ROLAND.
 XIX. 
XIX.
 XX. 
XX. ROSE AYLMER'S HAIR, GIVEN BY HER SISTER.
 XXI. 
XXI. THE ONE GRAVE.
 XXII. 
XXII.
 XXIII. 
XXIII.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. ON SOUTHEY'S BIRTHDAY, NOV. 4.
 XXV. 
XXV.
 XXVI. 
XXVI.
 XXVII. 
XXVII.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. TO A CHILD.
 XXIX. 
XXIX.
 XXX. 
XXX.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. NIL ADMIRARI, ETC.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. JUNE '51.
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII. TO THE COUNTESS DE MOLANDÈ.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. YOUTH.
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VARIOUS.
 XXXV. 
XXXV.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. LOSS OF MEMORY.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. TO THE NIGHTINGALE.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. ROLAND.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. CORDAY.
 XL. 
XL. JANE OF ARC.
 XLI. 
XLI. ON THE STATUE OF EBENEZER ELLIOTT BY NEVILLE BURNARD, ORDERED BY THE WORKING MEN OF SHEFFIELD.
 XLII. 
XLII. ODE TO SICILY.
collapse sectionXLIII. 
XLIII. GONFALIONIERI.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 XLIV. 
XLIV. TO FRANCIS HARE, BURIED AT PALERMO, ON THE INSURRECTION OF SICILY AND NAPLES.
 XLV. 
XLV. TO SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO, ON THE MASSACRE AT MILAN.
 XLVI. 
XLVI.
 XLVII. 
XLVII. DANTE.
 XLVIII. 
XLVIII.
 XLIX. 
XLIX.
 L. 
L. ON THE SLAUGHTER OF THE BROTHERS BANDIERI, BETRAYED TO THE KING OF NAPLES.
 LI. 
LI. TO YOUTH.
 LII. 
LII. TO AGE.
 LIII. 
LIII. TYRANNICIDE.
 LIV. 
LIV. ON THE APPROACH OF A SISTER'S DEATH.
 LV. 
LV. ON SWIFT JOINING AVON NEAR RUGBY.
 LVI. 
LVI.
 LVII. 
LVII. SHAKESPEARE AND MILTON.
 LVIII. 
LVIII. TO MIDSUMMER DAY.
 LIX. 
LIX. TO SHELLEY.
 LX. 
LX. WRITTEN AT HURSTMONCEAUX.
 LXI. 
LXI.
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EPISTLES.
 LXII. 
LXII. TO THE AUTHOR OF “FESTUS.”
 LXIII. 
LXIII. TO A FRIEND'S REMONSTRANCE.
 LXIV. 
LXIV. TO THE REVEREND CUTHBERT SOUTHEY.
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FROM DRY STICKS.
 I. 
I. ON LAW.
 II. 
II. MACAULAY'S PEERAGE.
 III. 
III. PLAYS.
 IV. 
IV. TO A CYCLAMEN.
 V. 
V. TO THE CYCLAMEN.
 VI. 
VI. HEART'S-EASE.
 VII. 
VII. HOW TO READ ME.
 VIII. 
VIII. APOLOGY FOR GEBIR.
 IX. 
IX. DEATH OF THE DAY.
 X. 
X. ON SOUTHEY'S DEATH.
 XI. 
XI. GORE-HOUSE LEFT FOR PARIS.
 XII. 
XII. THE THREE ROSES.
 XIII. 
XIII. THE LAST GIFT.
 XIV. 
XIV. LA PENSIEROSA.
 XV. 
XV. THE FIG-TREES OF GHERARDESCA.
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HEROIC IDYLS, WITH ADDITIONAL POEMS.
 I. 
I. A FRIEND TO THEOCRITOS IN EGYPT.
 II. 
II. PAN.
 III. 
III. MEMORY.
 IV. 
IV. TO THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI. ABERTAWY.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX. A FOREIGN RULER.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII. TO SIR RODERICK MURCHISON.
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FROM THE HELLENICS.
  
[Come back, ye wandering Muses, come back home]
  
THRASYMEDES AND EUNÖE.
  
ICARIOS AND ERIGONÈ.
  
THE CHILDREN OF VENUS.
  
THE HAMADRYAD.
  
ACON AND RHODOPE; OR, INCONSTANCY.
  
CATILLUS AND SALIA.
  
ENALLOS AND CYMODAMEIA.
  
PAN AND PITYS.
  
LEONTION, ON TERNISSA'S DEATH (EPICUROS ALSO DEPARTED).
  
CORYTHOS.
  
CORYTHOS.
  
PELEUS AND THETIS.
  
THE ESPOUSALS OF POLYXENA.
  
DEATH OF PARIS AND ŒNONE.
collapse section 
HOMER, LAERTES, AGATHA.
 1. 
FIRST DAY.
 2. 
SECOND DAY.
 3. 
THIRD DAY.

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LXVII.

[Here, where precipitate Spring, with one light bound]

Here, where precipitate Spring, with one light bound
Into hot Summer's lusty arms, expires,
And where go forth at morn, at eve, at night,
Soft airs that want the lute to play with 'em,
And softer sighs that know not what they want,
Aside a wall, beneath an orange-tree,
Whose tallest flowers could tell the lowlier ones
Of sights in Fiesolè right up above,
While I was gazing a few paces off
At what they seem'd to show me with their nods,
Their frequent whispers and their pointing shoots,
A gentle maid came down the garden steps
And gathered the pure treasure in her lap.
I heard the branches rustle, and stept forth
112

To drive the ox away, or mule or goat,
Such I believed it must be. How could I
Let beast o'erpower them? When hath wind or rain
Borne hard upon weak plant that wanted me,
And I (however they might bluster round)
Walkt off? 'Twere most ungrateful: for sweets scents
Are the swift vehicles of still sweeter thoughts,
And nurse and pillow the dull memory
That would let drop without them her best stores.
They bring me tales of youth and tones of love.
And 'tis and ever was my wish and way
To let all flowers live freely, and all die
(Whene'er their Genius bids their souls depart)
Among their kindred in their native place.
I never pluck the rose; the violet's head
Hath shaken with my breath upon its bank
And not reproacht me; the ever-sacred cup
Of the pure lily hath between my hands
Felt safe, unsoil'd, nor lost one grain of gold.
I saw the light that made the glossy leaves
More glossy; the fair arm, the fairer cheek
Warmed by the eye intent on its pursuit;
I saw the foot that, altho' half-erect
From its grey slipper, could not lift her up
To what she wanted: I held down a branch
And gather'd her some blossoms; since their hour
Was come, and bees had wounded them, and flies
Of harder wing were working their way thro'
And scattering them in fragments under-foot.
So crisp were some, they rattled unevolved,
Others, ere broken off, fell into shells,
For such appear the petals when detacht,
Unbending, brittle, lucid, white like snow,
And like snow not seen thro', by eye or sun:
Yet every one her gown received from me
Was fairer than the first. I thought not so,
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But so she praised them to reward my care.
I said, “You find the largest.”
“This indeed,”
Cried she, “is large and sweet.” She held one forth,
Whether for me to look at or to take
She knew not, nor did I; but taking it
Would best have solved (and this she felt) her doubt.
I dared not touch it; for it seemed a part
Of her own self; fresh, full, the most mature
Of blossoms, yet a blossom; with a touch
To fall, and yet unfallen. She drew back
The boon she tender'd, and then, finding not
The ribbon at her waist to fix it in.
Dropt it, as loth to drop it, on the rest.
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