The Poetical Works of George MacDonald (Parables)
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THE POETICAL WORKS OF GEORGE MACDONALD
PARABLES
THE MAN OF SONGS.
"Thou wanderest in the land of dreams,
O man of many songs! To thee what is, but looks and seems;
No realm to thee belongs!"
"Seest thou those mountains, faint and far,
O spirit caged and tame?" "Blue clouds like distant hills they are,
And like is not the same."
"Nay, nay; I know each mountain well,
Each cliff, and peak, and dome! In that cloudland, in one high dell,
Nesteth my little home."
THE HILLS.
Behind my father's cottage lies
A gentle grassy height Up which I often ran--to gaze
Back with a wondering sight, For then the chimneys I thought high
Were down below me quite!
All round, where'er I turned mine eyes,
Huge hills closed up the view; The town 'mid their converging roots
Was clasped by rivers two; From, one range to another sprang
The sky's great vault of blue.
It was a joy to climb their sides,
And in the heather lie! A joy to look at vantage down
On the castle grim and high! Blue streams below, white clouds above,
In silent earth and sky!
And now, where'er my feet may roam,
At sight of stranger hill A new sense of the old delight
Springs in my bosom still, And longings for the high unknown
Their ancient channels fill.
For I am always climbing hills,
From the known to the unknown-- Surely, at last, on some high peak,
To find my Father's throne, Though hitherto I have only found
His footsteps in the stone!
And in my wanderings I did meet
Another searching too: The dawning hope, the shared quest
Our thoughts together drew; Fearless she laid her band in mine
Because her heart was true.
She was not born among the hills,
Yet on each mountain face A something known her inward eye
By inborn light can trace; For up the hills must homeward be,
Though no one knows the place.
Clasp my hand close, my child, in thine--
A long way we have come! Clasp my hand closer yet, my child,
Farther we yet must roam-- Climbing and climbing till we reach
Our heavenly father's home.
THE JOURNEY.
Table of Contents
THE POETICAL WORKS OF GEORGE MACDONALD
PARABLES
THE MAN OF SONGS.
THE HILLS.
THE JOURNEY.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
THE TREE'S PRAYER.
WERE I A SKILFUL PAINTER.
FAR AND NEAR.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
MY ROOM
DEATH AND BIRTH.
LOVE'S ORDEAL.
THE LOST SOUL.
THE THREE HORSES.
THE GOLDEN KEY.
SOMNIUM MYSTICI
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
THE SANGREAL
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
THE FAILING TRACK.
TELL ME.
BROTHER ARTIST!
AFTER AN OLD LEGEND.
A MEDITATION OF ST. ELIGIUS.
THE EARLY BIRD.
SIR LARK AND KING SUN.
THE OWL AND THE BELL.
A MAMMON-MARRIAGE.
A SONG IN THE NIGHT.
LOVE'S HISTORY.
THE LARK AND THE WIND.
A DEAD HOUSE.
'BELL UPON ORGAN.
MASTER AND BOY.
THE CLOCK OF THE UNIVERSE.
THE THORN IN THE FLESH.
LYCABAS:
BALLADS
THE UNSEEN MODEL.
THE HOMELESS GHOST.
ABU MIDJAN.
THE THANKLESS LADY.
LEGEND OF THE CORRIEVRECHAN.
THE DEAD HAND.
MINOR DITTIES.
IN THE NIGHT.
THE GIVER.
FALSE PROPHETS.
LIFE-WEARY.
APPROACHES.
TRAVELLERS' SONG.
LOVE IS STRENGTH.
COMING.
SONG OF THE WAITING DEAD.
OBEDIENCE.
A SONG IN THE NIGHT.
DE PROFUNDIS.
BLIND SORROW.
MOTES IN THE SUN.
ANGELS.
THE FATHER'S WORSHIPPERS.
A BIRTHDAY-WISH.
TO ANY ONE.
WAITING.
LOST BUT SAFE.
MUCH AND MORE.
HOPE AND PATIENCE.
A BETTER THING.
A PRISONER.
TO MY LORD AND MASTER.
TO ONE UNSATISFIED.
TO MY GOD.
TRIOLET.
THE WORD OF GOD.
EINE KLEINE PREDIGT.
TO THE LIFE ETERNAL.
HOPE DEFERRED.
FORGIVENESS.
DEJECTION.
APPEAL.
POEMS FOR CHILDREN
LESSONS FOR A CHILD.
I.
II.
III.
WHAT MAKES SUMMER?
MOTHER NATURE.
THE MISTLETOE.
PROFESSOR NOCTUTUS.
BIRD-SONGS.
RIDDLES.
I.
II.
FOR MY GRANDCHILD.
III.
IV.
BABY.
UP AND-DOWN.
UP IN THE TREE.
A BABY-SERMON.
LITTLE BO-PEEP.
LITTLE BOY BLUE.
WILLIE'S QUESTION.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
KING COLE.
SAID AND DID.
DR. DODDRIDGE'S DOG.
THE GIRL THAT LOST THINGS.
A MAKE-BELIEVE.
THE CHRISTMAS CHILD.
A CHRISTMAS PRAYER.
NO END OF NO-STORY.
A THREEFOLD CORD
TO
GREVILLE MATHESON MACDONALD.
CASA CORAGGIO
A THREEFOLD CHORD.
THE HAUNTED HOUSE
IN THE WINTER.
CHRISTMAS-DAY, 1878.
THE NEW YEAR.
TWO RONDELS.
I.
II.
RONDEL.
SONG.
SMOKE.
TO A CERTAIN CRITIC.
SONG.
A CRY.
FROM HOME.
TO MY MOTHER EARTH.
THY HEART.
0 LORD, HOW HAPPY!
NO SIGN.
NOVEMBER, 1851.
OF ONE WHO DIED IN SPRING.
AN AUTUMN SONG.
TRIOLET.
I SEE THEE NOT.
A BROKEN PRAYER.
COME DOWN.
A MOOD.
THE CARPENTER.
THE OLD GARDEN.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
A NOONDAY MELODY.
WHO LIGHTS THE FIRE?
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?
ON A DECEMBER DAY.
I.
II.
CHRISTMAS DAY, 1850.
TO A FEBRUARY PRIMROSE.
IN FEBRUARY.
THE TRUE.
THE DWELLERS THEREIN.
AUTUMN'S GOLD.
PUNISHMENT.
SHEW US THE FATHER.
THE PINAFORE.
THE PRISM.
I.
II.
SLEEP.
SHARING.
IN BONDS.
HUNGER.
NEW YEAR'S EVE: A WAKING DREAM.
FROM NORTH WALES: TO THE MOTHER.
COME TO ME.
A FEAR.
THE LOST HOUSE.
THE TALK OF THE ECHOES.
A FRAGMENT.
THE GOAL
THE HEALER.
OH THAT A WIND.
A VISION OF ST. ELIGIUS.
I.
II.
III.
OF THE SON OF MAN.
A SONG-SERMON:
RONDEL.
WORDS IN THE NIGHT.
CONSIDER THE RAVENS
THE WIND OF THE WORLD.
SABBATH BELLS.
FIGHTING.
AFTER THE FASHION OF AN OLD EMBLEM.
A PRAYER IN SICKNESS.
QUIET DEAD!
LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE.
TRIOLET.
THE SOULS' RISING.
AWAKE!
TO AN AUTOGRAPH-HUNTER.
WITH A COPY OF "IN MEMORIAM."
TO E.M. II.
THEY ARE BLIND.
WHEN THE STORM WAS PROUDEST.
THE DIVER.
FROM SCHILLER.
TO THE CLOUDS.
SECOND SIGHT.
NOT UNDERSTOOD.
THE DAWN.
GALILEO.
SUBSIDY.
THE PROPHET.
THE WATCHER.
THE BELOVED DISCIPLE.
I.
II.
THE LILY OF THE VALLEY.
EVIL INFLUENCE.
SPOKEN OF SEVERAL PHILOSOPHERS.
NATURE A MORAL POWER.
TO JUNE.
SUMMER.
ON A MIDGE.
STEADFAST.
PROVISION.
FIRST SIGHT OF THE SEA.
ON THE SOURCE OF THE ARVE.
CONFIDENCE.
FATE.
UNREST.
ONE WITH NATURE.
MY TWO GENIUSES.
I.
II.
III.
SUDDEN CALM.
THOU ALSO.
THE AURORA BOREALIS.
THE HUMAN.
WRITTEN ON A STORMY NIGHT.
REVERENCE WAKING HOPE.
BORN OF WATER.
TO A THUNDER-CLOUD.
SUN AND MOON.
DOUBT HERALDING VISION.
LIFE OR DEATH?
LOST AND FOUND.
THE MOON.
TRUTH, NOT FORM!
GOD IN GROWTH.
IN A CHURCHYARD.
POWER.
DEATH.
THAT HOLY THING.
FROM NOVALIS.
WHAT MAN IS THERE OF YOU?
O WIND OF GOD.
SHALL THE DEAD PRAISE THEE?
A YEAR SONG.
SONG.
FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO.
THE ASTHMATIC MAN TO THE SATAN THAT BINDS HIM.
SONG-SERMON.
SHADOWS.
A WINTER PRAYER.
SONG OF A POOR PILGRIM.
AN EVENING PRAYER.
SONG-SERMON.
A DREAM-SONG.
CHRISTMAS, 1880.
RONDEL.
THE SPARROW.
DECEMBER 23, 1879.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
SONG-PRAYER: AFTER KING DAVID.
DECEMBER 27, 1879
SUNDAY,
DECEMBER 28, 1879.
SONG-SERMON.
THE DONKEY IN THE CART TO THE HORSE IN THE CARRIAGE.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
ROOM TO ROAM.
COTTAGE SONGS.
I.--BY THE CRADLE.
II.--SWEEPING THE FLOOR.
III.--WASHING THE CLOTHES.
IV.--DRAWING WATER.
V.--CLEANING THE WINDOWS.
THE WIND AND THE MOON.
THE FOOLISH HAREBELL.
SONG.
AN IMPROVISATION.
EQUITY.
CONTRITION.
THE CONSOLER
ON AN ENGRAVING OF SCHEFFER'S
I.
II.
III.
TO
TO A SISTER.
THE SHORTEST AND SWEETEST OF SONGS.
SCOTS SONGS AND BALLADS.
ANNIE SHE'S DOWIE.
O LASSIE AYONT THE HILL!
THE BONNY, BONNY DELL.
NANNIE BRAW.
OWER THE HEDGE.
I.
II.
GAEIN AND COMIN.
A SANG O' ZION.
TIME AND TIDE.
THE WAESOME CARL.
THE MERMAID.
THE YERL O' WATERYDECK.
THE TWA GORDONS.
I.
II.
III.
THE LAST WOOIN.
HALLOWEEN.
THE LAVEROCK.
GODLY BALLANTS.
I.--THIS SIDE AN' THAT.
II.--THE TWA BAUBEES.
III.--WHA'S MY NEIBOUR?
IV.--HIM WI' THE BAG.
V.--THE COORSE CRATUR.
THE DEIL'S FORHOOIT HIS AIN.
THE AULD FISHER.
THE HERD AND THE MAVIS.
A LOWN NICHT.
THE HOME OF DEATH.
TRIOLET.
WIN' THAT 'BLAWS.
A SONG OF HOPE.
THE BURNIE.
HAME.
THE SANG O' THE AULD FOWK.
THE AULD MAN'S PRAYER
GRANNY CANTY.
TIME.
WHAT THE AULD FOWK ARE THINKIN.
GREITNA, FATHER.
I KEN SOMETHING.
MIRLS.
THE END.
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