Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Poets and Years
- List of Poets and Volumes
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Suggested Further Reading
- Changing Times
- Textual Notes 1836–1850
- 1836
- 1837
- 1838
- 1839
- 1840
- 1841
- 1842
- 1843
- 1844
- 1845
- 1846
- 1847
- 1848
- 1849
- 1850
- Sources – Volume I
- Index of Poets and Sonnet Titles – Volume I
- Index of Poets and Sonnet First Lines – Volume I
- Index of Sonnet Titles – Volume I
- Index of Sonnet First Lines – Volume I
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Poets and Years
- List of Poets and Volumes
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Suggested Further Reading
- Changing Times
- Textual Notes 1836–1850
- 1836
- 1837
- 1838
- 1839
- 1840
- 1841
- 1842
- 1843
- 1844
- 1845
- 1846
- 1847
- 1848
- 1849
- 1850
- Sources – Volume I
- Index of Poets and Sonnet Titles – Volume I
- Index of Poets and Sonnet First Lines – Volume I
- Index of Sonnet Titles – Volume I
- Index of Sonnet First Lines – Volume I
Summary
William Allingham (1824–1889)
[See also 1854, 1855, 1865, 1883, 1884 and 1889]
The Triumph
(A Funeral Fancy)
THE sad array wound slowly along the road;
The dusky feathers nodding on the bier
Moved in the solemn distance; spreading near,
The dark and sluggish stream of mourners flowed,
Oft pausing, with slow resumption of the load
Of lazy motion; through the tranquil, clear,
Thin morning air, a sound upon the ear,
Monotonous of feet and wheels abode.
A tyrant's triumph I beheld, I thought;
On that plumed car, unseen of mortal eye
Enthroned; and the slain victim that did lie
Beneath his feet, on those his vassals brought
Dumb fear—each knowing it might be his lot
Next to adorn that awful pageantry.
A Definite Attainment
OF all the things accomplished yet by man
Which is the greatest? In our loftiest aims
No full accomplishment the wise man claims;
In our mechanic marvels we but plan
To live a little easier if we can;
Science a schoolboy is; poetic fames
Are mere appropriations; Nature shames
The old painters, while we even miss their span.
Our greatest fact,—which Nature rivals not,
Adam owned not before he rued the tree,
Nor Greek in templed Athens e'er attained,—
With weakness, doubt—with earth or death unstained;
I deem, the various powers of Music brought
Together in one soul-deep harmony.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Anthem Anthology of Victorian Sonnets , pp. 243 - 280Publisher: Anthem PressPrint publication year: 2011