The Poets of the Spen Valley: Being Biographies and Poems, by Various Authors, of the Parliamentary Division of the Spen Valley

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Thornton, 1892 - English poetry - 192 pages

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Page 118 - In a small narrow cave, and, begirt with cold clay, To the meanest of reptiles a peer and a prey. To Beauty ? Ah no ! She forgets The charms which she wielded before ; Nor knows the foul worm that he frets The skin which but yesterday fools could adore, For the smoothness it held or the tint which it wore.
Page 118 - Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, LORD, it is good for us to be here : if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles ; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Page 119 - Ah ! sweetly they slumber, nor hope, love nor fear : " Peace, peace !" is the watchword — the only one here. Unto Death, to whom monarchs must bow ? Ah, no ! for his empire is known, And here there are trophies enow : Beneath, the cold dead, and around, the dark stone, Are the signs of a sceptre that none may disown. The first tabernacle to Hope we will build. And look for the sleepers around us to rise ; The second to Faith, which ensures it fulfilled, And the third to the Lamb of the great sacrifice...
Page 119 - To the pleasures which Mirth can afford ; — The revel, the laugh, and the jeer ? Ah ! here is a plentiful board ; But the guests are all mute as their pitiful cheer, And none but the worm is a reveller here.
Page 118 - METHINKS it is good to be here : If thou wilt, let us build — but for whom ? Nor Elias nor Moses appear ; But the shadows of eve that encompass with gloom The abode of the dead and the place of the tomb.
Page 119 - The skin that but yesterday fools could adore. For the smoothness it held, or the tint which it wore. Shall we build to the purple of Pride, The trappings which dizen the proud ? Alas ! they are all laid aside, And here's neither dress nor adornment allowed Save the long winding-sheet and the fringe of the shroud.
Page 120 - FORGIVE thy foes ; — nor that alone ; Their evil deeds with good repay ; Fill, those with joy who leave thee none, And kiss the hand upraised to slay.
Page 22 - Plato, thou reason'st well ! — Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire, This longing after immortality ? Or whence this secret dread, and inward horror, Of falling into nought? why shrinks the soul Back on herself, and startles at destruction ? Tis the divinity that stirs within us ; Tis heaven itself, that points out an hereafter, And intimates eternity to man.
Page 118 - The charms that she wielded before ; Nor knows the foul worm that he frets The skin which but yesterday fools could adore, For the smoothness it held, or the tint which it wore. Shall we build to the purple of Pride, The trappings which dizen the proud?
Page 120 - If quite and modest, you'll have it presumed That your humble position is only assumed, You're a wolf in sheep's clothing, or else you're a fool ; But don't get excited, keep perfectly cool — For people will talk.

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