Poems — Volume 2

Chapter 1 · 1/262

Poems — Volume 2

Chapter 1

Loading book access…

Transcribed from the 1912 Times Book Club “Surrey” edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org [Picture: Book cover] [Picture: The Châlet, Box Hill] POEMS VOL. II BY GEORGE MEREDITH * * * * * SURREY EDITION * * * * * LONDON THE TIMES BOOK CLUB 376–384 OXFORD STREET, W. 1912 * * * * * Edinburgh: T. and A. Constable, Printers to his Majesty CONTENTS PAGE TO J. M., 1 Let Fate or Insufficiency provide LINES TO A FRIEND VISITING AMERICA, 2 Now farewell to you! you are TIME AND SENTIMENT, 11 I see a fair young couple in a wood, LUCIFER IN STARLIGHT, 12 On a starred night Prince Lucifer uprose THE STAR SIRIUS, 12 Bright Sirius! that when Orion pales SENSE AND SPIRIT, 13 The senses loving Earth or well or ill EARTH’S SECRET, 13 Not solitarily in fields we find INTERNAL HARMONY, 14 Assured of worthiness we do not dread GRACE AND LOVE, 14 Two flower-enfolding crystal vases she APPRECIATION, 15 Earth was not Earth before her sons appeared, THE DISCIPLINE OF WISDOM, 15 Rich labour is the struggle to be wise THE STATE OF AGE, 16 Rub thou thy battered lamp: nor claim nor beg PROGRESS, 16 In Progress you have little faith, say you: THE WORLD’S ADVANCE, 17 Judge mildly the tasked world; and disincline A CERTAIN PEOPLE, 17 As Puritans they prominently wax, THE GARDEN OF EPICURUS, 18 That Garden of sedate Philosophy A LATER ALEXANDRIAN, 18 An inspiration caught from dubious hues AN ORSON OF THE MUSE, 19 Her son, albeit the Muse’s livery THE POINT OF TASTE, 19 Unhappy poets of a sunken prime! CAMELUS SALTAT, 20 What say you, critic, now you have become CONTINUED, 20 Oracle of the market! thence you drew MY THEME, 21 Of me and of my theme think what thou wilt: CONTINUED, 21 ’Tis true the wisdom that my mind exacts ON THE DANGER OF WAR, 22 Avert, High Wisdom, never vainly wooed, TO CARDINAL MANNING, 23 I, wakeful for the skylark voice in men, TO COLONEL CHARLES, 24 An English heart, my commandant, TO CHILDREN: FOR TYRANTS, 27 Strike not thy dog with a stick! Poems and Lyrics of the Joy of Earth THE WOODS OF WESTERMAIN, 33 Enter these enchanted woods, A BALLAD OF PAST MERIDIAN, 48 Last night returning from my twilight walk THE DAY OF THE DAUGHTER OF HADES, 49 He who has looked upon Earth THE LARK ASCENDING, 67 He rises and begins to round, PHOEBUS WITH ADMETUS, 71 When by Zeus relenting the mandate was revoked, MELAMPUS, 75 With love exceeding a simple love of the things LOVE IN THE VALLEY, 80 Under yonder beech-tree single on the greensward, THE THREE SINGERS TO YOUNG BLOOD, 88 Carols nature, counsel men, THE ORCHARD AND THE HEATH, 90 I chanced upon an early walk to spy EARTH AND MAN, 92 On her great venture, Man, A BALLAD OF FAIR LADIES IN REVOLT, 100 See the sweet women, friend, that lean beneath Ballads and poems of Tragic Life THE TWO MASKS, 115 Melpomene among her livid people, ARCHDUCHESS ANNE, 116 I. In middle age an evil thing II. Archduchess Anne sat carved in frost III. Old Kraken read a missive penned THE SONG OF THEODOLINDA, 133 Queen Theodolind has built A PREACHING FROM A SPANISH BALLAD, 139 Ladies who in chains of wedlock THE YOUNG PRINCESS, 144 I. When the South sang like a nightingale II. The lords of the Court they sighed heart-sick, III. Lord Dusiote sprang from priest and squire; IV. The soft night-wind went laden to death KING HARALD’S TRANCE, 154 Sword in length a reaping-hook amain WHIMPER OF SYMPATHY, 158 Hawk or shrike has done this deed YOUNG REYNARD, 159 Gracefullest leaper, the dappled fox-cub MANFRED, 160 Projected from the bilious Childe, HERNANI, 161 Cistercians might crack their sides THE NUPTIALS OF ATTILA, 162 Flat as to an eagle’s eye, ANEURIN’S HARP, 180 Prince of Bards was old Aneurin; MEN AND MAN, 186 Men the Angels eyed; THE LAST CONTENTION, 187 Young captain of a crazy bark! PERIANDER, 190 How died Melissa none dares shape in words. SOLON, 195 The Tyrant passed, and friendlier was his eye BELLEROPHON, 197 Maimed, beggared, grey; seeking an alms; with nod PHAÉTHÔN, 200 At the coming up of Phoebus the all-luminous charioteer, A Reading of Earth SEED-TIME, 209 Flowers of the willow-herb are wool; HARD WEATHER, 211 Bursts from a rending East in flaws THE SOUTH-WESTER, 215 Day of the cloud in fleets! O day THE THRUSH IN FEBRUARY, 220 I know him, February’s thrush, THE APPEASEMENT OF DEMETER, 226 Demeter devastated our good land, EARTH AND A WEDDED WOMAN, 231 The shepherd, with his eye on hazy South, MOTHER TO BABE, 234 Fleck of sky you are, WOODLAND PEACE, 235 Sweet as Eden is the air, THE QUESTION WHITHER, 236 When we have thrown off this old suit, OUTER AND INNER, 237 From twig to twig the spider weaves NATURE AND LIFE, 239 Leave the uproar: at a leap DIRGE IN WOODS, 240 A wind sways the pines, A FAITH ON TRIAL, 241 On the morning of May, CHANGE IN RECURRENCE, 260 I stood at the gate of the cot HYMN TO COLOUR, 261 With Life and Death I walked when Love appeared, MEDITATION UNDER STARS, 265 What links are ours with orbs that are WOODMAN AND ECHO, 268 Close Echo hears the woodman’s axe, THE WISDOM OF ELD, 270 We spend our lives in learning pilotage, EARTH’S PREFERENCE, 270 Earth loves her young: a preference manifest: SOCIETY, 271 Historic be the survey of our kind, WINTER HEAVENS, 271 Sharp is the night, but stars with frost alive NOTES 272 TO J. LET Fate or Insufficiency provide Mean ends for men who what they are would be: Penned in their narrow day no change they see Save one which strikes the blow to brutes and pride. Our faith is ours and comes not on a tide: And whether Earth’s great offspring, by decree, Must rot if they abjure rapacity, Not argument but effort shall decide. They number many heads in that hard flock: Trim swordsmen they push forth: yet try thy steel. Thou, fighting for poor humankind, wilt feel The strength of Roland in thy wrist to hew A chasm sheer into the barrier rock, And bring the army of the faithful through. LINES TO A FRIEND VISITING AMERICA

1 / 262