THE COLLECTED POEMS

OF

AMELIAALDERSON

OPIE

EDITED BY

SHELLEY KINGAND

JOHN B. PIERCE

OXPORDUNIVERSITY PRESS

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS V

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS XXvii

ABBREVIATIONS XXviii

INTRODUCTION XXXvii

1791-931. Sonnet on Visiting Cromer for the First Time Since the Death

of My Mother with Whom I used Frequently to Visit it 32. I've Gazed on the Handsome, Have Talked with the Wise 33. These Scenes Belov'd, Upon Whose Tranquil Shores 4

17954. Written on Seeing a Bust of Minerva at Felbrig Hall, Thrown

into a Corner amongst Rubbish 45a. My Love to War is Going (Twiss Accompaniment) 45b. My Love to War is Going (Biggs Accompaniment) 56. Here's a Health to Those Far Away! 57. Ode on the Present Times. 27th January 1795 68. Laura 89. Sonnet ('The young adventurer sails for India's shore') 11

10. Sun Set 12n . Ode. Written on the Approach of a Storm 1312. Sonnet. Written on the Sea-Shore 1513. Spring. From Metastasio 1514. La Partenza, From Metastasio 1715. Consumption 1916. Death 2017. Somebody 23

179918. Reponse 2319. Song ('Think not while gayer swains invite') 24

XI

CONTENTS

I8OO

20. An Evening Walk at Cromer, 1795 24

21. On Seeing Mrs. Siddons' Busts of Her Brothers and Herself 26

22. Crazy Sally! 27

23. How Still is Now the Hamlet! 28

24. How Nature Smiles When Dawning Day 28

25. Down, Down Thou Struggling Sigh 29

26. Let Not Sorrow Cloud Thy Brow 29

27. Stay Gentle Damsel, Stay Awhile 30

28. A Hunting Song 31

29. Dream of Soft Delight 31

30. Yes! Yes 'Tis Love to Pine in Sorrow 32

31. Sad was the Time When Vers'd in Art 32

32. On Spring 33

33. Away to the Battle! for Danger Draws Nigh 34

34. Stella! Thou False One 35

35. Laura, I for Bacchus 35

36. O Why are My Accents so Broken and Weak 36

37. Fill the Bowl, and Let's be Joyous 36

38. Mary! A Favorite Ballad . 37

39. The Emigrant 38

40. Sweet Maid I've Heard Thy Frequent Sigh 39

1801

41. When the Nymph I Love Smiling Sits Beside Me 39

42. A Beggar Girl's Song 40

43. The Suicide 41

44. Captain Morgan's March 41

45. Flaunting Two 42

46. The Rising of the Lark 43

47. Lullaby Song 45

1802

48. Elegy to the Memory of the Late Duke of Bedford (Writtenon the Evening of his Interment) 46

49. The Morning Call of the Swiss Pastors 53

CONTENTS

50. The Evening Call of the Swiss Pastors 55

51. O! May I Then Your Words Believe 55

POEMS (52-89)

52. Sonnet to Winter 59

53. The Dying Daughter to Her Mother 59

54. Allen Brooke of Windermere 62

55. The Maid of Corinth to Her Lover 63

56. Song ('Bring the song, and join in chorus') 73

57. The Mourner 74

58. Another on the Same Subject 75

59. Elegiac Song, To the tune of'Ar hydy nos' 76

60. To the Glow-Worm 77

61. The Negro Boy's Tale 78

62. Lines Written at Norwich on the First News of Peace 83

63. Lines for the Album at Cossey, The Seat of Sir WilliamJerningham, Bart 85

64. Song . . . to Laura 89

65. Song of a Hindostani Girl 89

66. Song ('Yes, Mary Anne, I freely grant') 92

67. Song ('A youth for Jane with ardour sighed') 92

68. A Mad-Song 93

69. Song ('I once rejoiced, sweet Evening Gale') 94

70. 'The Voice of Him I Love' 95

71. The Complaint 96

72. Address of a Felon to His Child on the Morning of his. Execution {Respectfully Inscribed to the Philanthropic

Society) 99

73. The Virgin's First Love 101

74. Stanzas Written Under yEolus's Harp 103

75. Consumption 105

76. Epigram on Reading the Pleadings of Count LallyTolendal for His Father the Late Count Lally 108

77. Lines Addressed to Mr. Biggs on His Having Set theMad-Song, and My Love to War is Going 108

78. Fatherless Fanny, A Ballad 108

XIII

CONTENTS

79. The Despairing Wanderer 109

80. The Orphan Boy's Tale 111

81. Symptoms of Love. To Henry 113

82. Song ('Fond dream of love by love repaid') 114

83. Song ('Go, youth beloved, in distant glades') 115

84. Sonnet ('How vain the task thy image to remove') 116

85. Song ('I know you false, I know you vain') 116

86. Lines Respectfully Inscribed to the Society for the Relief

of Persons Imprisoned for Small Debts 117

87. To Twilight 120

88. Epistle to a Friend on New-Year's Day . . . . 1802 121

89. On Reading since the Duke of Bedford's DeathMr. Burke's Letter Reflecting on His Grace 127

90. Lines Written by Mrs. Opie 129

1803

91. Ah! Me! With that False One 129

92. Poor Owen! A Ballad 130

1804

93. Come to Battle: Arm'd in Your Country's Cause 131

94. The Song of the Old Man of the Wood 132

95. Hunting the Hare 133

96. The Camp of the Palace: Of Noble Race was Shenkin.

A Dialogue Duet 134

97. A Leap over the Stone 135

98. Away My Herd to the Oaken Grove 135

99. The Ebb of the Tide 136

100. The March of the Men of Harlech: The Soldier's Return 137

1805

101. On Being Asked if She had Written Verses on the Absence

of Sir James Mackintosh in India 138

102. The Child of Sorrow's Tale 138

103. To Dr Manning on His Birthday n t h of Dec: 1805 139

104. Inscription for the Tomb of a Mother, and Five of herChildren 140

XIV

CONTENTS

l8o6

105. Why Bid My Trembling Lips Explain 141

106. O Welcome Bonny Month of May. A Ballad 141

107. Mad Song 142

108. A Noble Lady 142

109. Lost is My Quiet For Ever 143

1807110. Accept these Sheets With Roses Grac'd 144

i n . Epilogue. [To The Curfew] 145

1808

THE WARRIOR'S RETURN (112-45)112. The Warrior's Return 149

113. Julia, or The Convent of St. Claire: A Tale Founded on Fact 154

114. The Mad Wanderer, A Ballad 162

115. Lines Written in 1799 163

116. Song ('I am wearing away like the snow in the sun') 163

117. To Lorenzo 164

118. Ode to Borrowdale in Cumberland 165

119. The Lucayan's Song 168

120. Song ('Was it for this I dearly loved thee?') 171

121. Ballad, founded on Fact 172

122. Song ('Yes, thou art changed since first we met') 173

123. Stanzas to Cynthio 174

124. The Origin of the Sail 175

125. Sonnet on the Approach of Autumn 176

126. To Laura ('Cease, Laura, cease, suspect no more') 177

127. Love Elegy, to Laura 178

128. Love Elegy, to Henry 179

129. To Henry ('Think not, while fairer nymphs invite') 181

130. To Henry ('How I hail this morn's appearing!') 181

131. Lines on the Opening of a Spring Campaign 182

132. Lines on the Place de la Concorde at Paris, Originallycalled the Place de Louis Seize, —next the Place de laRevolution, where the perpetual guillotine stood 183

xv

CONTENTS

133. The Moon and the Comet; A Fable 185

134. To Lothario 187

135. To Henry ('Suppress that cruel doubt, dear youth!') 187

136. To Anna 188

137. Remembrance 189

138a. Secret Love, [I] ('Not one kind look . . . one friendly

word!') 191

138b. Secret Love, [II] ('To me how dear this twilight hour') 191

138c. Secret Love, [III] ('Oft hast thou marked my chilling eye') 192

I38d. Secret Love, [IV] ('One little moment, short as blest') 193

139. To a Maniac 193140. Lines on Hearing, Three or Four Years Ago, that

Constantinople was Swallowed up by an Earthquake,

A Report, though false, at that time generally believed 194

141. Song ('While many a fond and blooming maid') 197

142. To Henry ('Thy fatal form, where'er I go') 198

143. Song ('Ask not, whence springs my ceaseless sadness') 198

144. Song ('Yes . . . . though we've loved so long, so well') 199

145a. Songs, [I] ('How fondly I gaze on the fast falling-leaves') 200

145b. Songs, [II] ('Where dost thou bide, blessed soul of my

love!') 201

145c. Songs, [III] ('Low hung the dark clouds on Plinlimmon's

tall peak') 201

i45d. Songs, [IV] ('You ask why these mountains delight me

no more') 202

146. Hark! Hark! Hark! The Foe is Near 203

147. Alas! Alas! I Can't Forget 204

148. Yes! Mem'ry Still Recalls the Hour 204

149. Go, Cease that Studied Grace 205

150. No—Do Not Think I'll Waste My Bloom 206

151. When the Glare of Day is Past 207

152. Love and Pity. From Love and Lovers Flying 208

153. Tell Me What Your Bosom Troubles? 209

154. O! How Blest My Soul's Dear Treasure 210

155. How Months Unfelt Have Vanish'd 211

XVI

CONTENTS

1809156. The Dawn of Day 212157. To Mr & Mrs Roberts, with Some Dried Apples 212

1810158. In My Cot, Tho'Small's My Store 213

1811

159. Towyn Castle160. The Red Piper's Melody161. Stranger, If E'er You Honour'd Sidney's Fame

1812

162. The Soft Blooms of Summer are Fair to the Eye

163. Then Be It So, and Let Us Part164. Irregular Sonnet on a Neglected but Blooming Garden

1813165. Tributary Lines166. Go, Child of Charity, Pursue Thy Course

1814167. Why Sons of Britain Rush Ye Forth

168. Think not Kind Bard! I Can the Fault Repent

169. Prologue (to Labyrinth Farm)

1815170. To Mrs. Lemaistre on Her Birthday—5th of June 1815171. The Pilgrim of Love172. On the Daughter of Colonel Hamilton

2 1 3

2 1 4

2 1 5

2 1 5

2 1 6

2 1 8

2 1 8

2 1 9

2 2 0

2 2 0

2 2 1

2 2 2

2 2 2

2 2 3

1816173. To Mrs Lemaistre at Paris on her Birthday—the 5th of

June 1816 224174. As Yet Thy Griefs have been but Summer Showers 224

1817175. The Vale of Clwyd 225

XVII

CONTENTS

176. To Joseph John Gurney On his Inviting Me to See HisSpring Flowers which were Suddenly Hidden by a GreatFall of Snow 226

177. To Mrs. Lemaistre with an Almanack, On Her Birthday—5th of June 1817 227

178. Who Gave the Sun His Light? A Hymn to the Creator 228

1818179. Song ('To love thee was the easiest task') 229180. Song ('Yes, we must part, since fate has so decreed it') 229181. Nay, Bid Me Not Forswear that Bowl 230182. Joy to My Love, This Cruel War is Elided 230183. Song ('They told me I was born to love') 231184. Lines to the Memory of Sophia Bland Jun Who was Interred

in the Burying Ground in Norwich Belonging to Friends inthe December ofi8i8 232

185. To Mrs. Lemaistre at Malvern, on Her Birthday—5th ofJune—1818 236

186. Prayer for the Wanderers 236187. Worship 237

1819188. Henry, A Song 238189. To Mrs. Lemaistre on Her Birth-day 5th of June—1819

with an Ivory Box Containing a Remedy for the Headach— 238

1820190. To Mrs. Lemaistre on Her Birthday—5th of June—1820— 239191. To Mr. Curtis—Aurist to the Regent 240192. Beauties & Goddesses, As I Can Prove 241193. Song ('When you bid me love another') 241194. He Gave Me Gems, He Gave Me Gold 242195. Song ('How bright this summer's sun appear'd!') 242196. Song ('If now before this splendid throng') 242197. Song ('O that I could recall the day') 243198. Fairest, Sweetest, Dearest, A Song 244199. Duet ('Say, why art thou pensive, beloved of my heart') 245200. The Lovely Lily of the Vale 246

XVIII

CONTENTS

l82I

201. Dear Cousins, I am Full of Flusters 246

202. Priscilla's Grave 248

203. I Must Confess My Little Loves 249

204. Stanzas of Sorrow 252

205. Song ('And could that smile of love deceive') 252

206. Song ('Oh! not on me those glances bend') 253

1822

207. To With Cowper's Poems 253

208. To Mrs Lemaistre on Her Birthday—5th of June 1822 254

209. Lines from a Gentleman in India to His Wife in England 255

210. Song ('Wherever thou goest, though far from me straying') 256

211. Song ('Why ask me the cause of my sorrow') 257

212. Song ('And are those hours for ever gone') 258

213. A Song ('Yes—thou art gone! I feel it now!') 259

214. To Mrs. L , on Her Birthday, June 5, 1818 260

215. You Wretches Three 260

216. Lines to Laura 262

217. Song ('There's not a look of those dear eyes') 262

218. To Rosaline.—From the French 263

219. Song ('Thou art the giddiest youth alive') 264

220. Address to Love 265

221. Lines to the Memory of a Lately Deceased Friend 266

222. The Convert's Prayer 266

223. Thoughts in a Place of Worship 267

224. Reflections during Silent Worship 268

225. Consolation for the Distressed 269

226. Lo! Morning Breaks: Methinks till Now 270

227. Address to October 271

228. To L[ewis] M[aclean] 272

229. Address to Summer 272

230. To Madeline 273

231. Crown the Passing Hour with Joy 273

XIX

CONTENTS

1823

232. Epistles by Mary, Queen of Scots 274

233. Song ('I had a hope which now is o'er') 303

234. To Thomas John Alderson on His Birthday—28th of Nov:

1823 304

235. To My Father on the 7th of April 1823 305

236. To Mrs. Lemaistre on Her Birthday—with a Three-SidedSeal on which is Engraved T'Amo 305

1824 (

237. Come back! One gift from foreign shore 306

238. Hymn to God, the Eternal and Unchangeable 306

239. Song ('Go—thou canst wound my peace no more') 307

240. Song iJoy in Woe' 308

241. To Elizabeth Lemaistre on Her Birthday 5th of June 1824 308

242. To Robert Sou they on His Leaving Norwich 310

243. Lines Sent with Some Buds &C for the Coffin of<T:o: Lind> a Sweet Boy of 12 Years Old 310

244. To Thomas John Alderson 310

1825

245. The Interments 311

246. By Words or by Smiles 312

247. To the Flower Called, Forget Me Not 313

248. Sonnet ('The world invites thee—go, Lorenzo, go') 313

249. To Elizabeth Lemaistre on Her Birthday 6th Mo 5th 1825 314

250. Resignation, A Hymn 315

251. Hymn. After a Walk in the Spring 315

252. Reproof and Comfort for Mourners 316

253. Death the Gate of Life 317

1826254. The Black Man's Lament; or How to Make Sugar 318

255. An Address to the Garden Roll. A Mock Heroic 323

256. Epitaph on William Hayley 325

257. On the Death of Edmund Janson 9th Mo 1826 326

258. Could This Be Dying? Where the Struggling Breath? 327

xx

CONTENTS

259. Lines on the Death of Elizabeth Opie, My Husband's Sister,Whom I Never Saw After I Parted From Her Soon After HisDeath In The Year 1807— 328

1827260. At Length, then, the Tenderest of Mothers is Gone! 329

261. How Darkly Life Now Spreads Before Me! 329262. To Eliza A[lderson], 1822 329

1828263. Life is a Pilgrimage 330264. On Hearing of the Death of Priscilla Hannah Gurney 331265. Lines, Written on the Sea Shore 332

1829266. Change of Heart 332267. Epitaph in S Churchyard 333268. She, Who within this Humble Grave is Laid 333269. The Two Soldiers 334270. He Bade Me Remember Him 336271. A David, Apres Avoir Entendu Prononce a L'Institut

L'Eloge De Houdon— 337272. To a Prism Sent from London to My Friend David 338273. Epitaph on 339274. Hymn ('There's not a leaf within the bower') 339

1830275. Now, Eliza, & Tommy Dears 340276. On Seeing the Tricolor Again 340277. The Portraits 341

1831278. Aux Polonais Qui Partent 343279. To the Memory of Albert De St F[irmin] 344280. Oh Bright was the Pageant When England's King 345

1832281. The True Friend 346

XXI

CONTENTS

282. God is Nigh 347283. A Vision 348

1833284. And didst thou long for angels' drink? 350285. On These Fearful Times 350286. Again, Eliza, Let Me Hail that Day 351287. The Prodigal Returned 351288. Thoughts on the Sea-Shore 352289. To Dr. Chalmers 353290. I Wish Thee a Merry Xmas! f 354

1834

LAYS FOR THE DEAD (291-330)291. Dirge on the Death of My Relation, Captain Charles

William Thompson, of the 1st Guards, Who Was Killednear Bidart, in the Winter of 1813 356

292. Lines Addressed to a Departed Friend 358293. To the Spirit of 362294. Lines on the Death of Two Brothers, the Only Sons of

Friends Very Dear to Me 362295. On the Anniversary of the Birth-day of My Near Relation,

Ollyett Woodhouse, Advocate General of Bombay, WhichRecurred Soon after I Had Heard of His Death, 1822 364

296. Stanzas on the Death of the Same 366297. On the Anniversary of a Funeral, 1832 368298. In Memory of My Mother 371299. On the Funeral of 372300. In Memory of a Dear Young Friend, Who Died, Almost

Suddenly, Two Months Before Him Whose Suffering AgeHe So Often Soothed by His Attentions 373

301. Lines, Supposed to Be Addressed by a Brazilian to theMessenger Bird, Who Comes, as the Brazilian Believes,from the Land of Spirits 375

302. The Shipwreck 376303. A Lament 378304. On the Sudden Death of a Beautiful Child 380

xxii;

CONTENTS

305. Lines on the Death of an Aged Friend (Inscribed to hergrandson) 381

306. On the Death of the Lady , Only Daughter of the Late

Marquis , and Widow of Colonel 382

307. On the Death of Reginald Heber, Bishop of Calcutta 383

308. On the Death of a Bride 390

309. Epitaph on an Amiable Individual in Humble Life 392

310. Lines, Written in an Album after the Death of its Owner,and under the Verses with Which I Had Begun it a Few

Years Ago 392

310a. ('Oh! Mournful Record of Departed Years!') 392

310b. ('Thou Art at Peace! that Fond and Anxious Heart') 394

311. On the Christmas Day of 1830, Commemorative of theSudden Death on That Day of a Most Dear andVenerated Friend 394

312. To , on the Death of Her Mother, of Whom, in HerLast Days, a Friend Remarked, 'It Is a Fine Sunset!' 396

313. Address to a Dying Friend 397

314. Epitaph on a Mother and Daughter, Relations of Mine, WhoDied at Penzance, Within a Short Time of Each Other 398

315a. Tributary Lines. Part the First 398

315b. Tributary Lines. Part the Second 399

316. On the Death of a Near Relation 400

317. On the Same 400

318. On the Death of a Child 401

319. On Seeing the Statue of My Late Uncle, Dr. Alderson,of Hull 401

320. The Parents' Chaunt of Thanksgiving on the Death ofOne of Two Only Children, with Whom They Had JustReturned from Their Deceased Mother's House in the

North of England, to Their Home in the West 402

321. In Memory of 404

322. Remembrance 405

323. To a Departed Friend 406

324. On the Portraits of Deceased Relatives and Friends,Which Hang Around Me 407

324a. Introductory Lines 407

XXIII

CONTENTS

324b. Portrait the First 408324c. Portrait the Second 409324d. Portrait the Third 410324c Portrait the Fourth 410324f. Portrait the Fifth . 411324g. Portrait the Sixth 411325. On a Luminous Sea, after Some Very Destructive Gales 413326. The Last Letter 414327. On Cuvier 415328. In Memory of the Viscount G[alwa]y, Whom I Saw for the

Last Time When He Was Going with His Family to Court 416329. On a Dear Friend, Lately Deceased 417330. Sketches of Saint MichaeFs Mount, Gratefully Inscribed to

the Lord De Dunstanville and Sir John St. Aubyn, Bart 417330a. Sketch the First 418330b. Sketch the Second 421330c. Sketch the Third 42233od. Sketch the Fourth 423330c The Skeleton 425

1836331. The Princess Victoria 428

1837332. To Anna Gurney. A Description of My Last Recent Visit to

North Repps Cottage 428333. Lines on Lady Harrt Gurney & her Daughter Harriet—to

DG 430

1838334. The Envied One 430

1840335. Cantata 433336. Remember Me 434

1841337. To Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, Bart. On His Birthday 1st

April 1841 435

XXIV

CONTENTS

1842338. Lines To The Memory Of John Cubitt, Rector Of

Overstrand, And For 40 Years Curate Of Sidestrand 436

1843339. The Death of Abijah, The Son of Jeroboam. — 1 Kings XIV 438340. To Elizabeth Lemaistre on her Birthday 441

1844341. To Elizabeth Lemaistre (Alas! Not Birthday Verses, as Usual

but Heartfelt Apologies for not Having Written Any! TheFirst Omission during 35 Years!) 442

1846342. To America ('Welcome beyond the utmost power') 443343. To America ('Fair is thy land America, & free'!) 444344. To America ('Famed is the day when thy brave Sons') 444

1850345. Oh ye! who come this show to view 445

Poems of Unknown Date346. Hymn ('I might have followed thee, dear Lord') 447347. On a Late Affecting Event at Woodrising 448348. Nature & Art Might Both Alike Contend 448

APPENDIX A Eudora, the Maid of Corinth (1803) 449

APPENDIX B Introduction to the 'Negro Boy's Tale' 456APPENDIX c Poems of False or Dubious Attribution 462APPENDIX D Sample Songs 468

1. 'My Love to War is Going', music by E. S. Biggs 4682. 'Poor Mary Anne!', music adapted from a Welsh Air by

E. S. Biggs 4693. 'I Know You False. I Know You Vain', music by Wesley Doyle 4714. 'Lost is My Quiet Forever', music adapted from an Irish Air

by E. S. Biggs (1 voice) 4755. 'Lost is My Quiet Forever', music adapted from an Irish Air

by E. S. Biggs (3 voices) 477

xxv

CONTENTS

6. 'O Welcome Bonny Month of May', music by E. S. Biggs 4787. 'Venture Gwen', music by J. Haydn 481

APPENDIX E Reviews of Volumes of Poetry 483

COMMENTARY 484

BIBLIOGRAPHY 604

INDEX OF TITLES 629

INDEX OF FIRST LINES 639

XXVI