The voices / 21 fragments

Edmund Waller

1605 AD — 1687 AD

Listed in the author section of Bartlett’s ninth-edition anthology, in the linked 1905 printing. Dates reflect that historical edition and may differ from modern scholarship.

Author and source reference ↗

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Historical source references

On a Lady passing through a Crowd of People
To a Lady singing a Song of his Composing
On a Girdle
While I listen to thy Voice
Of English Verse
Upon the Death of the Lord Protector
Go, Lovely Rose
Panegyric on Cromwell
On St
Of Tea
Upon Roscommon's Translation of Horace, De Arte Poetica
Divine Love
On the Divine Poems
Page 72 · printed citation: Edmund Waller (1606-1687) (On a Girdle)
Page 240 · printed citation: Edmund Waller (1606-1687)
Printed page 6 · quotation 10 · Edmund Waller · Prologue to the Maid's Tragedy
Printed page 51 · quotation 7 · Edmund Waller · Epistle to Mr
Printed page 115 · quotation 6 · Edmund Waller · Of Divine Love
Printed page 778 · quotation 26 · Edmund Waller · Of Tea

Archive entries

01c. 1646 AD

The yielding marble of her snowy breast.

Edmund Waller / quote

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02c. 1646 AD

That eagle's fate and mine are one, Which on the shaft that made him die Espied a feather of his own, Wherewith he wont to soar so high.

Edmund Waller / quote

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03c. 1646 AD

A narrow compass! and yet there Dwelt all that 's good, and all that 's fair; Give me but what this riband bound, Take all the rest the sun goes round.

Edmund Waller / quote

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04c. 1646 AD

For all we know Of what the blessed do above Is, that they sing, and that they love.

Edmund Waller / quote

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05c. 1646 AD

Poets that lasting marble seek Must come in Latin or in Greek.

Edmund Waller / quote

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06c. 1646 AD

Under the tropic is our language spoke, And part of Flanders hath receiv'd our yoke.

Edmund Waller / quote

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07c. 1646 AD

Go, lovely rose! Tell her that wastes her time and me That now she knows, When I resemble her to thee, How sweet and fair she seems to be.

Edmund Waller / quote

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08c. 1646 AD

How small a part of time they share That are so wondrous sweet and fair!

Edmund Waller / quote

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09c. 1646 AD

Illustrious acts high raptures do infuse, And every conqueror creates a muse.

Edmund Waller / quote

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10c. 1646 AD

In such green palaces the first kings reign'd, Slept in their shades, and angels entertain'd; With such old counsellors they did advise, And by frequenting sacred groves grew wise.

Edmund Waller / quote

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11c. 1646 AD

And keeps the palace of the soul.

Edmund Waller / quote

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12c. 1646 AD

Poets lose half the praise they should have got, Could it be known what they discreetly blot.

Edmund Waller / quote

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13c. 1646 AD

Could we forbear dispute and practise love, We should agree as angels do above.

Edmund Waller / quote

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14c. 1646 AD

The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decay'd, Lets in new light through chinks that Time has made. Stronger by weakness, wiser men become As they draw near to their eternal home: Leaving the old, both worlds at once they view That stand upon the threshold of the new.

Edmund Waller / quote

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15Undated

Give me but what this ribband bound, Take all the rest the sun goes round!

Edmund Waller / quote

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16Undated

While I listen to thy voice, Chloris! I feel my life decay: That pow’rful noise Calls my fleeting soul away. Oh! suppress that magic sound, Which destroys without a wound. Peace, Chloris, peace! or singing die; That, together, you and I To heaven may go: For all we know Of what the Blessèd do above Is, that they sing, and that they love.

Edmund Waller / quote

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17Undated

In other things the knowing artist may Judge better than the people; but a play, (Made for delight, and for no other use) If you approve it not, has no excuse.

Edmund Waller / quote

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18Undated

So must the writer, whose productions should Take with the vulgar, be of vulgar mould.

Edmund Waller / quote

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19Undated

His love at once and dread instruct our thought; As man He suffer'd and as God He taught.

Edmund Waller / quote

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20Undated

8Tea does our fancy aid, Repress those vapours which the head invade And keeps that palace of the soul serene.

Edmund Waller / quote

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21Undated

Stronger by weakness, wiser men become.

Edmund Waller / quote

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Edmund Waller

Archive entries

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