George Meredith. 1828-1909
776. Lucifer in Starlight
1 min to read
111 words

ON a starr'd night Prince Lucifer uprose.   Tired of his dark dominion swung the fiend   Above the rolling ball in cloud part screen'd, Where sinners hugg'd their spectre of repose. Poor prey to his hot fit of pride were those.   And now upon his western wing he lean'd,   Now his huge bulk o'er Afric's sands careen'd, Now the black planet shadow'd Arctic snows. Soaring through wider zones that prick'd his scars   With memory of the old revolt from Awe, He reach'd a middle height, and at the stars, Which are the brain of heaven, he look'd, and sank. Around the ancient track march'd, rank on rank,   The army of unalterable law.

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Alexander Smith. 1829-1867
777. Love
1 min to read
164 words
Return to The Oxford Book of English Verse, 1250–1900






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