Читать книгу The English Poetic Mind - Charles Williams - Страница 2

PREFACE

She stood in tears amid the alien corn

Those heathen ranks to see;

To Sextus naught spake he.

II ‘THE GROWTH OF A POET’S MIND’

speak of them as Powers

through the turnings intricate of verse

powerful in all sentiments of grief

Dust as we are, the immortal spirit grows

Imagination—here the Power so called

III THE CYCLE OF SHAKESPEARE

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

IV MILTON

I

O Father, O Supreme of heavenly Thrones,

Convulsions, epilepsies, fierce catarrhs,

II

As that Theban monster that proposed

V WORDSWORTH

sea-beast, that on a shelf

to typify the utmost we can know

VI THE CRISIS IN LESSER POETS

Not charioted by Bacchus and his pards,

Though the dull brain perplexes and retards

From the wet field, through the vext garden-trees,

Come with the volleying rain and tossing breeze

But the majestic River floated on,

And faint the city gleams;

Spring the great streams.

VII CONCLUSION

No hungry generations tread thee down;

In ancient days by emperor and clown

Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home,

Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.

As ’tis for object strange and high;

Upon Impossibility—

I ask no more.

APPENDIX CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS