Alfred, Lord Tennyson - Delphi Poets Series
Page 133
Casques were crack’d and hauberks hack’d,
Lances snapt in sunder,
Rang the stroke, and sprang the blood,
Knights were thwack’d and riven, and hew’d
Like broad oaks with thunder.
‘O what an arm,’ said the king.
Edith bow’d her stately head,
Saw them lie confounded,
Edith Montfort bow’d her head,
Crown’d her knight’s, and flush’d as red
As poppies when she crown’d it.
‘Take her Sir Ralph,’ said the king.
The Wanderer
THE GLEAM of household sunshine ends,
And here no longer can I rest;
Farewell! — You will not speak, my friends,
Unfriendly of your parted guest.
O well for him that finds a friend,
Or makes a friend where’er he come,
And loves the world from end to end,
And wanders on from home to home!
O happy he, and fit to live,
On whom a happy home has power
To make him trust his life, and give
His fealty to the halcyon hour!
I count you kind, I hold you true;
But what may follow who can tell?
Give me a hand — and you — and you —
And deem me grateful, and farewell!
Poets and Critics
THIS thing, that thing is the rage,
Helter-skelter runs the age;
Minds on this round earth of ours
Vary like the leaves and flowers,
Fashion’d after certain laws;
Sing thou low or loud or sweet,
All at all points thou canst not meet,
Some will pass and some will pause.
What is true at last will tell:
Few at first will place thee well;
Some too low would have thee shine,
Some too high — no fault of thine —
Hold thine own, and work thy will!
Year will graze the heel of year,
But seldom comes the poet here,
And the Critic’s rarer still.
A Voice Spake Out of the Skies
A VOICE spake out of the skies
To a just man and a wise —
‘The world and all within it
Will only last a minute!’
And a beggar began to cry
‘Food, food or I die’!
Is it worth his while to eat,
Or mine to give him meat,
If the world and all within it
Were nothing the next minute?
Doubt and Prayer
THO’ Sin too oft, when smitten by Thy rod,
Rail at ‘Blind Fate’ with many a vain ‘Alas!’
From sin thro’ sorrow into Thee we pass
By that same path our true forefathers trod;
And let not Reason fail me, nor the sod
Draw from my death Thy living flower and grass,
Before I learn that Love, which is, and was
My Father, and my Brother, and my God!
Steel me with patience! soften me with grief!
Let blow the trumpet strongly while I pray,
Till this embattled wall of unbelief
My prison, not my fortress, fall away!
Then, if Thou willest, let my day be brief,
So Thou wilt strike Thy glory thro’ the day.
Faith
I.
DOUBT no longer that the Highest is the wisest and the best,
Let not all that saddens Nature blight thy hope or break thy rest,
Quail not at the fiery mountain, at the shipwreck, or the rolling
Thunder, or the rending earthquake, or the famine, or the pest!
II.
Neither mourn if human creeds be lower than the heart’s desire!
Thro’ the gates that bar the distance comes a gleam of what is higher.
Wait till Death has flung them open, when the man will make the Maker
Dark no more with human hatreds in the glare of deathless fire!
The Silent Voices
WHEN the dumb Hour, clothed in black,
Brings the Dreams about my bed,
Call me not so often back,
Silent Voices of the dead,
Toward the lowland ways behind me,
And the sunlight that is gone!
Call me rather, silent voices,
Forward to the starry track
Glimmering up the heights beyond me
On, and always on!
God and the Universe
I.
WILL my tiny spark of being wholly vanish in your deeps and heights?
Must my day be dark by reason, O ye Heavens, of your boundless nights,
Rush of Suns, and roll of systems, and your fiery clash of meteorites?
II.
‘Spirit, nearing yon dark portal at the limit of thy human state,
Fear not thou the hidden purpose of that Power which alone is great,
Nor the myriad world, His shadow, nor the silent Opener of the Gate.’
The Death of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale
To the Mourners.
THE bridal garland falls upon the bier,
The shadow of a crown, that o’er him hung,
Has vanish’d in the shadow cast by Death.
So princely, tender, truthful, reverent, pure —
Mourn! That a world-wide Empire mourns with you,
That all the Thrones are clouded by your loss,
Were slender solace. Yet be comforted;
For if this earth be ruled by Perfect Love,
Then, after his brief range of blameless days,
The toll of funeral in an Angel ear
Sounds happier than the merriest marriage-bell.
The face of Death is toward the Sun of Life,
His shadow darkens earth: his truer name
Is ‘Onward,’ no discordance in the roll
And march of that Eternal Harmony
Whereto the worlds beat time, tho’ faintly heard
Until the great Hereafter. Mourn in hope!
The Poems
Louth Grammar School — where Tennyson was educated from 1816 to 1820
The school today
LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
ADVERTISEMENT.
STANZAS.
IN EARLY YOUTH I LOST MY SIRE.
MEMORY.
YES — THERE BE SOME GAY SOULS WHO NEVER WEEP.
HAVE YE NOT SEEN THE BUOYANT ORB?
THE EXILE’S HARP.
WHY SHOULD WE WEEP FOR THOSE WHO DIE?
RELIGION! THO’ WE SEEM TO SPURN.
REMORSE.
ON GOLDEN EVENINGS, WHEN THE SUN.
THE DELL OF E —— — .
MY BROTHER.
ANTONY TO CLEOPATRA.
I WANDER IN DARKNESS AND SORROW.
TO ONE WHOSE HOPE REPOSED ON THEE.
THE OLD SWORD.
THE GONDOLA.
WE MEET NO MORE.
BY AN EXILE OF BASSORAH.
MARIA TO HER LUTE, THE GIFT OF HER DYING LOVER.
THE VALE OF BONES.
TO FANCY.
BOYHOOD.
DID NOT THY ROSEATE LIPS OUTVIE.
HUNTSMAN’S SONG.
PERSIA.
EGYPT.
THE DRUID’S PROPHECIES.
LINES.
SWISS SONG.
THE EXPEDITION OF NADIR SHAH INTO HINDOSTAN.
GREECE.
THE MAID OF SAVOY.
IGNORANCE OF MODERN EGYPT.
MIDNIGHT.
IN SUMMER, WHEN ALL NATURE GLOWS.
SCOTCH SONG.
BORNE ON LIGHT WINGS OF BUOYANT DOWN.
SONG: IT IS THE SOLEMN EVEN-TIME.
THE STARS OF YON BLUE PLACID SKY.
FRIENDSHIP.
ON THE DEATH OF MY GRANDMOTHER.
AND ASK YE WHY THESE SAD TEARS STREAM?
ON SUBLIMITY.
THE DEITY.
THE REIGN OF LOVE.
TIS THE VOICE OF THE DEAD.
TIME: AN ODE.
GOD’S DENUNCIATIONS AGAINST PHARAOH-HOPHRA, OR APRIES.
ALL JOYOUS IN THE REALMS OF DAY.
THE BATTLE-FIELD.
THE THUNDER-STORM.
THE GRAVE OF A SUICIDE.
ON THE DEATH OF LORD BYRON.
THE WALK AT MIDNIGHT.
MITHRIDATES PRESENTING BERENICE WITH THE CUP OF POISON.
THE BARD’S FAREWELL.
EPIGRAM.
ON BEING ASKED FOR A SIMILE TO ILLUSTRATE THE ADVANTAGE OF KEEPING THE PASSIONS SUBSERVIENT TO REASON.
EPIGRAM ON A MUSICIAN WHOSE HARP-STRINGS WERE CRACKED FROM WANT OF USING.
THE OLD CHIEFTAIN.
APOLLONIUS RHODIUS’S COMPLAINT.
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM.
LAMENTATION OF THE PERUVIANS.
SHORT EULOGIUM ON HOMER.
A SISTER, SWEET ENDEARING NAME!
THE SUN GOES DOWN IN THE DARK BLUE MAIN.
STILL, MUTE, AND MOTIONLESS SHE LIES.
OH! NEVER MAY FROWNS AND DISSENSION MOLEST.
ON A DEAD ENEMY.
LINES.
THE DUKE OF ALVA’S OBSERVATION ON KINGS.
AH! YES, THE LIP MAY FAINTLY SMILE.
THOU CAMEST TO THY BOWER, MY LOVE.
TO ——
THE PASSIONS.
THE HIGH-PRIEST TO ALEXANDER.
THE DEW, WITH WHICH THE EARLY MEAD IS DREST.
ON THE MOONLIGHT SHINING UPON A FRIEND’S GRAVE.
A CONTRAST.
EPIGRAM.
THE DYING CHRISTIAN.
THOSE WORLDLY GOODS THAT, DISTANT, SEEM.
HOW GAYLY SINKS THE GORGEOUS SUN WITHIN HIS GOLDEN BED.
OH! YE WILD WINDS, THAT ROAR AND RAVE.
SWITZERLAND.
A GLANCE.
BABYLON.
OH! WERE THIS HEART OF HARDEST STEEL.
THE SLIGHTED LOVER.
CEASE, RAILER, CEASE! UNTHINKING MAN.
ANACREONTIC.
IN WINTER’S DULL AND CHEERLESS REIGN.
SUNDAY MOBS.
PHRENOLOGY.
LOVE.
TO —— —
SONG: TO SIT BESIDE A CRYSTAL SPRING
IMAGINATION.
THE OAK OF THE NORTH.
EXHORTATION TO THE GREEKS.
KING CHARLES’S VISION.
TIMBUCTOO
CLARIBEL: A MELODY
LILIAN
ISABEL
THE ‘HOW’ AND THE ‘WHY’
ELEGIACS
MARIANA
O —— : CLEAR-HEADED FRIEND...
MADELINE
THE MERMAN
THE MERMAID
SUPPOSED CONFESSIONS
THE BURIAL OF LOVE
TO ——
SONG THE OWL
SECOND SONG TO THE SAME
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS
ODE TO MEMORY
SONG “I’THE GLOOMING LIGHT...”
SONG: A SPIRIT HAUNTS THE YEAR’S LAST HOURS
ADELINE
A CHARACTER
SONG “THE LINTWHITE AND THE THROSTLECOCK...”
SONG “EVERY DAY HATH ITS NIGHT...”
THE POET
THE POET’S MIND
NOTHING WILL DIE
ALL THINGS WILL DIE
HERO TO LEANDER
THE MYSTIC
THE DYING SWAN
A DIRGE
THE GRASSHOPPER
LOVE, PRIDE AND FORGETFULNESS
CHORUS: “THE VARIED EARTH...”
LOST HOPE
THE DESERTED HOUSE
THE TEARS OF HEAVEN
LOVE AND SORROW
TO A LADY SLEEPING
SONNET “COULD I OUTWEAR MY PRESENT STATE OF WOE...”
SONNET “THOUGH NIGHT HATH CLIMBED HER PEAK OF HIGHEST NOON...”
SONNET “SHALL THE HAG EVIL DIE WITH CHILD OF GOOD...”
SONNET “THE PALLID THUNDERSTRICKEN SIGH FOR GAIN...”
LOVE
THE KRAKEN
THE BALLAD OF ORIANA
CIRCUMSTANCE
ENGLISH WAR SONG
NATIONAL SONG
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, 1832
DUALISMS
WE ARE FREE
THE SEA FAIRIES
SONNET TO J. M. K.
MINE BE THE STRENGTH OF SPIRIT...
TO ––(“MY LIFE IS FULL...”)
BUONOPARTE
SONNET: “OH, BEAUTY, PASSING BEAUTY!...”
SONNET: “BUT WERE I LOVED, AS I DESIRE TO BE”
THE LADY OF SHALOTT, 1833
MARIANA IN THE SOUTH
ELEÄNORE
THE MILLER’S DAUGHTER
FATIMA (O LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!)
ŒNONE, 1833
THE SISTERS
TO ––
THE PALACE OF ART
THE MAY QUEEN
NEW YEAR’S EVE
THE HESPERIDES
THE LOTOS EATERS
CHORIC SONG
ROSALIND
MY ROSALIND, MY ROSALIND
A DREAM OF FAIR WOMEN
SONG “WHO CAN SAY...?”
MARGARET
KATE
SONNET: “BLOW YE THE TRUMPET, GATHER FROM AFAR...”
POLAND
TO –– (“AS WHEN, WITH DOWNCAST EYES...”)
O DARLING ROOM
TO CHRISTOPHER NORTH
THE DEATH OF THE OLD YEAR
TO J. S.
THE LOVER’S TALE
ŒNONE, 1842
THE LADY OF SHALOTT, 1842
CONCLUSION.
LADY CLARA VERE DE VERE
YOU ASK ME, WHY, THO’ ILL AT EASE
OF OLD SAT FREEDOM ON THE HEIGHTS
LOVE THOU THY LAND, WITH LOVE FAR-BROUGHT
THE GOOSE
THE EPIC
MORTE D’ARTHUR
THE GARDENER’S DAUGHTER
DORA
AUDLEY COURT
WALKING TO THE MAIL
ST SIMON STYLITES
THE TALKING OAK
LOVE AND DUTY
ULYSSES
LOCKSLEY HALL
GODIVA
THE TWO VOICES
THE DAY-DREAM
THE SLEEPING PALACE
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, 1842
THE ARRIVAL
THE REVIVAL
THE DEPARTURE
MORAL
L’ENVOI
EPILOGUE
AMPHION
SIR GALAHAD
EDWARD GREY
WILL WATERPROOF’S LYRICAL MONOLOGUE MADE AT THE COCK.
LADY CLARE
THE LORD OF BURLEIGH
SIR LAUNCELOT AND QUEEN GUINEVERE
A FAREWELL
THE BEGGAR MAID
THE VISION OF SIN
THE SKIPPING ROPE
MOVE EASTWARD, HAPPY EARTH...
BREAK, BREAK, BREAK...
THE POET’S SONG
A FRAGMENT
ANACREONTICS
CHECK EVERY OUTFLASH, EVERY RUDER SALLY
ME MY OWN FATE TO LASTING SORROW DOOMETH
THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT FILL MY HEART WITH SIGHS
THE GOLDEN YEAR
TO THE QUEEN
EDWIN MORRIS, OR THE LAKE
COME NOT, WHEN I AM DEAD...
THE EAGLE
TO E. L. ON HIS TRAVELS IN GREECE.
THE NEW TIMON AND THE POET.
AFTER-THOUGHT
CAMBRIDGE
THE GERM OF ‘MAUD’
BEWICK FRAGMENT
THE SKIPPING-ROPE
THE NEW TIMON AND THE POETS
MABLETHORPE
HERE OFTEN, WHEN A CHILD, I LAY RECLINED
WHAT TIME I WASTED YOUTHFUL HOURS
COME NOT, WHEN I AM DEAD
SONNET TO W.C. MACREADY
> BRITONS, GUARD YOUR OWN
FOR THE PENNY-WISE
THE THIRD OF FEBRUARY, 1852
HANDS ALL ROUND
SUGGESTED BY READING AN ARTICLE IN A NEWSPAPER
GOD BLESS OUR PRINCE AND BRIDE
THE RINGLET
SONG: HOME THEY BROUGHT HIM SLAIN WITH SPEARS
LINES 1865-1866
A WELCOME TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS MARIE ALEXANDROVNA, DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH.
LITERARY SQUABBLES
THE HIGHER PANTHEISM
CROSSING THE BAR
FLOWER IN THE CRANNIED WALL
CHILD-SONGS
THE CITY CHILD.
MINNIE AND WINNIE.
LUCRETIUS
THE SPITEFUL LETTER
IN THE GARDEN AT SWAINSTON
THE THIRD OF FEBRUARY, 1852
THE VICTIM
THE VOICE AND THE PEAK
WAGES
THE WINDOW, OR, THE SONG OF THE WRENS
PRINCESS: PROLOGUE
PRINCESS: I
PRINCESS: II
PRINCESS: III
PRINCESS: IV
PRINCESS: V
PRINCESS: VI
PRINCESS: VII
PRINCESS: CONCLUSION
IN MEMORIAM A. H. H.: PREFACE
IN MEMORIAM A. H. H.:
IN MEMORIAM A. H. H.: EPILOGUE
MAUD: PART I
MAUD: PART II
MAUD: PART III
THE BROOK
THE LETTERS
THE DAISY
TO THE REV. F.D. MAURICE
WILL
ODE ON THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON
THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
DEDICATION
THE COMING OF ARTHUR
THE ROUND TABLE
GARETH AND LYNETTE
THE MARRIAGE OF GERAINT
GERAINT AND ENID
BALIN AND BALAN
MERLIN AND VIVIEN
LANCELOT AND ELAINE
THE HOLY GRAIL
PELLEAS AND ETTARRE
THE LAST TOURNAMENT
GUINEVERE
THE PASSING OF ARTHUR
TO THE QUEEN
ENOCH ARDEN
AYLMER’S FIELD
SEA DREAMS
THE GRANDMOTHER
NORTHERN FARMER
TITHONUS
THE VOYAGE
IN THE VALLEY OF CAUTERETZ
THE FLOWER
REQUIESCAT
THE SAILOR BOY
THE ISLET
THE RINGLET
A WELCOME TO ALEXANDRA
ODE SUNG AT THE OPENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
A DEDICATION
EXPERIMENTS
BOÄDICÉA
EXPERIMENTS IN QUANTITY
ON TRANSLATIONS OF HOMER
MILTON: ALCAICS.
MILTON: HENDECASYLLABICS.
ON TRANSLATIONS OF HOMER
SPECIMEN OF A TRANSLATION OF THE ILIAD IN BLANK VERSE.
TO ALFRED TENNYSON, MY GRANDSON
THE FIRST QUARREL
RIZPAH
THE NORTHERN COBBLER
THE REVENGE. A BALLAD OF THE FLEET
THE SISTERS