The New Oxford Book of Christian Verse

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ISBN: 9780192804860 | 0192804863
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 10/2/2003

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This anthology reflects the Christian faith as it has been professed and practised in all its varieties through the centuries. The poems included range from the Anglo-Saxon masterpiece, 'The Dream of the Rood', to works of twentieth-century poets such as Eliot, Auden, Betjeman, and Geoffrey Hill. Most fully represented are those four writers whom Donald Davie considers the masters of the sacred poem in English -- George Herbert, Henry Vaughan, Christopher Smart, and William Cowper -- but he also includes works by many other writers from all over the English-speaking world. Christian verse as written by female poets is well represented, from the Elizabethan Countess of Pembroke, via Emily Dickinson and Christina Rossetti, to Elizabeth Jennings. In addition, there are many congregational hymns and anonymous pieces, exemplifying 'the plain style' of direct, unswerving English, which Christian poets have found most appropriate for speaking their faith. Book jacket.

INTRODUCTION

xvii

ANONYMOUS (7TH-10TH CENTURY)

1. The Dream of the Rood

(3)

ANONYMOUS (13TH CENTURY)

2. 'Thou who createdst everything'

(1)

ANONYMOUS (c. 1275-1300)

3. ('Wait a Little')

(1)

4. (' Undo!')

(1)

ANONYMOUS (c. 1260-1320)

5. 'Now fade the rose and lily-flower'

(2)

ANONYMOUS (14TH CENTURY)

6. 'Moon-like is all other love'

(1)

ANONYMOUS (THE PEARL POET) (14TH CENTURY)

7. from Cleanness

(3)

WILLIAM LANGLAND (?1330-?1400)

8. from The Book Concerning Piers the Plowman

(3)

GEOFFREY CHAUCER (c. 1340-1400)

9. from Troilus and Criseyde

(1)

10. from Prologue to The Canterbury Tales

(1)

ANONYMOUS (LATE 14TH CENTURY)

11. ('Quia Amore Langueo')

(4)

ANONYMOUS (15TH CENTURY)

12. 'I sing of a maiden'

(1)

ANONYMOUS (c. 1450)

13. 'Adam lay y-bounden'

(1)

WILLIAM DUNBAR (?1465-1520)

14. On the Resurrection of Christ

(2)

ANONYMOUS (15TH CENTURY)

15. This Endris Night

(2)

SIR THOMAS WYATT (1503-1542)

16. Psalm 130. 'Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, Lord'

(1)

WILLIAM BALDWIN (fl. 1547-1549)

17. Christ to his Spouse

(1)

18. Christ, my Beloved

(1)

GEORGE GASCOIGNE (1542-1577)

19. Gascoigne's Good-morrow

(2)

20. Gascoigne's Good-night

(1)

WILLIAM KETHE (c. 1560)

21. Psalm 100. 'O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands' (All people that on earth do dwell)

(1)

ANONYMOUS (16TH CENTURY)

22. Hierusalem

(1)

ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE (?1545-?1610)

23. Away Van World

(1)

EDMUND SPENSER (?1552-1599)

24. from The Faeráe Queene (And is there care in heaven?)

(1)

25. from Amoretti (Most glorious Lord of life!)

(1)

ANONYMOUS (16TH CENTURY)

26. The Holy Well

(2)

FULKE GREVILLE, LORD BROOKE (1554-1628)

from Caelica:

27. Sonnet 89. 'The Manicheans did no idols make'

(1)

28. Sonnet 96. 'In those years when our Sense, Desire and Wit'

(1)

29. Sonnet 105. 'Three things there be in Man's opinion dear'

(1)

SIR PHILIP SIDNEY (1554-1586)

30. (Splendidis Longum Valedico Nugis) (Leave me, O Love, which reaches but to dust)

(1)

ALEXANDER HUME (?1557-1609)

31. Of the Day Estivall

(8)

32. Of Gods Omnipotencie

(4)

ROBERT SOUTHWELL (1561-1595)

33. Look Home

(1)

34. New Prince, New Pomp

(1)

35. The Burning Babe

(1)

MARY HERBERT, COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE (1561-1621)

from The Sidney Psalter:

36. Psalm 8. 'Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation?'

(1)

37. Psalm 74. 'O God, why hast thou cast us off forever?'

(4)

38. Psalm 115. 'Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us'

(1)

39. Psalm 139. 'O Lord, thou has searched me, and known me'

(3)

40. Psalm 147. 'Praise ye the Lord'

(1)

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616)

41. Sonnet 146. 'Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth'

(1)

ANONYMOUS

42. 'If I could shut the gate'

(1)

ANONYMOUS (c. 161.5)

43. Miserere, My Maker

(1)

ANONYMOUS

44. Sweet was the Song

(1)

THOMAS CAMPION (1567-1620)

45. 'To Music bent is my retired Mind'

(1)

BARNABE BARNES (c. 1569-1609)

46. God's Virtue

(1)

BEN JONSON (?1572-1637)

47. To Heaven

(1)

JOHN DONNE (1572-1631)

48. Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward

(1)

from Holy Sonnets:

49. 'Thou hast made me, and shall thy work decay?'

(1)

50. 'Why are we by all creatures waited on?'

(1)

51. 'What if this present were the world's last night?'

(1)

52. from A Litanie

(1)

GILES FLETCHER (?1588-1623)

53. (Easter Morn)

(1)

ROBERT HERRICK (1591-1674)

54. His Saviour's Words, Going to the Cross

(1)

FRANCIS QUARLES (1592-1644)

55. Like to the Arctic Needle

(1)

56. On Those that Deserve It

(1)

GEORGE HERBERT (1593-1633)

57. Redemption

(1)

58. Jordan

(1)

59. Church-monuments

(1)

60. The Windows

(1)

61. Virtue

(1)

62. The Collar

(1)

63. The Pulley

(1)

64. Discipline

(1)

65. The Pearl

(1)

66. Love

(1)

67. A True Hymn

(1)

68. The Temper

(1)

69. Frailty

(1)

70. Peace

(1)

71. The Flower

(1)

THOMAS WASHBOURNE (1606-1687)

72. Upon a Great Shower of Snow that fell on May-day, 1654

(2)

73. The Circulation

(1)

EDMUND WALLER (1606-1687)

74. from Last Verses

(1)

JOHN MILTON (1608-1674)

75. On the Morning of Christ's Nativity

(8)

76. Sonnet, On the late Massacre in Piedmont

(1)

77. Sonnet, (On his Blindness)

(1)

78. from Paradise Lost, Book V (O favourable spirit, propitious guest)

(1)

79. from Paradise Lost, Book XII (Descended, Adam to the bower where Eve)

(1)

80. from Samson Agonistes (O how comely it is and how reviving)

100

(1)

SIDNEY GODOLPHIN (1610-1643)

81. 'Lord, when the wise men came from far'

101

(1)

ANNE BRADSTREET (?1612-1672)

82. To my Dear and Loving Husband

102

(1)

83. In Memory of my dear grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet

102

(1)

RICHARD CRASHAW (?1613-1649)

84. Epithalamium

103

(3)

85. Chartas Nimia: or the Dear Bargain

106

(2)

RICHARD BAXTER (1615-1691)

86. from A Psalm of Praise (Ye holy Angels bright)

108

(3)

ANDREW MARVELL (1621-1678)

87. Bermudas

111

(1)

88. The Coronet

112

(1)

HENRY VAUGHAN (1622-1695)

89. Quickness

112

(1)

90. The Retreat

113

(1)

91. Peace

114

(1)

92. Ascension Hymn

115

(1)

93. The World

116

(1)

94. Man

117

(1)

95. The Waterfall

118

(1)

96. The Dawning

119

(1)

97. The Revival

120

(1)

98. Corruption

121

(1)

99. Religion

122

(1)

100. The Night

123

(2)

JOHN BUNYAN (1626-1688)

101. (The Pilgrim Song) (Who would true Valour see)

125

(1)

URIAN OAKES (1631-1681)

102. from An Elegie upon the Death of the Reverend Mr Thomas Shepard

126

(2)

JOHN DRYDEN (1631-1700)

103. from The State of Innocence

128

(2)

104. from Religio Laici

130

(1)

105. The Character of a Good Parson

131

(3)

THOMAS TRAHERNE (?1637-1614)

106. The Salutation

134

(1)

107. from Christian Ethics

135

(1)

108. Ibid. (Contentment)

136

(1)

THOMAS KEN (1637-1711)

109 'Glory to thee, my God, this night'

137

EDWARD TAYLOR (?1642-1729)

110 Upon a Wasp Chilled With Cold

131

(8)

111. from Preparatory Meditations Before My Approach to the Lord's Supper

139

(1)

112. Ibid.

139

(3)

NAHUM TATE (1652-1715)

113. 'While shepherds watched their flocks by night'

MATTHEW PRIOR (1664-1721)

114. On Exodus 3:14. 'I am that I am.' An Ode.

142

(3)

JOSEPH ADDISON (1672-1719)

115. Ode (The spacious firmament on high)

145

(1)

ISAAC WATTS (1674-1748)

116. Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ

146

(1)

117. Submission to Afflictive Providences

146

(1)

118. Look on him whom they pierced, and mourn

147

(1)

119. The Church the Garden of Christ

148

(1)

120. A Prospect of Heaven makes Death easy

149

(1)

121. Man frail, and God eternal (O God, our help in ages past)

150

(1)

122. Hosanna to Christ

151

(1)

123. The Shortness and Misery of Life

151

(1)

124. Miracles at the Birth of Christ

152

(1)

125. 'Where-e'er my flatt'ring Passions rove'

152

(1)

126. The Passion and Exaltation of Christ

153

(1)

ISAAC HANN (1690-1178)

127. (After reading the life of Mrs Catherine Stubbs...)

154

(1)

JOHN BYROM (1692-1763)

128. A Hymn for Christmas Day

154

(2)

PHILIP DODDRIDGE (1702-1751)

129. (Christ's Resurrection and Ascension)

156

(1)

130. Meditations on the Sepulchre in the Garden

156

(1)

CHARLES WESLEY (1707-1788)

131. 'Love Divine, all loves excelling'

157

(1)

132. Free Grace

158

(1)

133. 'O thou Eternal Victim slain'

159

(1)

134. (The Incarnation)

160

(1)

135. from The Horrible Decree

161

(1)

136. (During his Courtship)

162

(1)

137. (For his Wife, on her Birthday)

163

(2)

138. (On the Death of his Son)

165

(1)

139. (On Sympathisers with the American Revolution)

166

(1)

140. Wrestling Jacob

167

(3)

141. The Whole Armour of God

170

(3)

CHRISTOPHER SMART (1722-1771)

142. Psalm 147. 'Praise ye the Lord'

173

(3)

from Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Fasts and Festivals of the Church of England

143. Hymn 3. Epiphany

176

(2)

144. Hymn 13. St Philip and St James

178

(3)

145. Hymn 14. The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ

181

(1)

146. Hymn 32. The Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

182

(2)

from Hymns for the Amusement of Children:

147. Hymn 9. Moderation

184

(1)

148. Hymn 13. Elegance

184

(1)

149. Hymn 14. Loveliness

185

(1)

150. Hymn 32. Taste

186

(1)

151. Hymn 26. Mutual Subjection

187

(1)

152. Hymn 29. Long-suffering of God

187

EDWARD PERRONET (1725-1192)

153. 'All hail the power of Jesus' name'

188

(1)

JOHN NEWTON (1725-1807)

154. 'How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds'

189

(1)

155. 'Glorious things of thee are spoken'

190

(1)

WILLIAM COWPER (1131-1800)

156. from Truth

191

(4)

157. Love Constraining to Obedience

195

(1)

158. Self-Acquaintance

196

(1)

159. 'The Lord will Happiness divine'

197

(1)

160. Walking with God

198

(1)

161. Light Shining out of Darkness

198

(1)

162. Joy and Peace in Believing

199

(1)

163. Jehovah our Righteousness

200

(1)

164. Exhortation to Prayer

201

(1)

165. Stanzas Subjoined to the Yearly Bill of Mortality of the Parish of All Saints, Northampton: for the year 1787

202

(1)

166. On a Similar Occasion: for the year 1190

203

(1)

167. On a Similar Occasion: for the year 1792

204

(1)

AUGUSTUS MONTAGUE TOPLADY (1740-1778)

168. 'Rock of Ages'

205

(1)

TIMOTHY DWIGHT (1152-1817)

169. from The Triumph of Infidelity

206

(2)

WILLIAM BLAKE (1157-1827)

170. Jerusalem

208

(1)

ROBERT BURNS (1759-1796)

171. Address to the Unco Guid

208

(2)

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH (1170-1850)

172. Resolution and Independence

210

(4)

JAMES MONTGOMERY (1771-1854)

173. Nativity

214

(1)

SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (1772-1834)

174. My Baptismal Birthday

215

(1)

175. Epitaph

215

(1)

REGINALD HEBER (1783-1826)

176. 'By Cool Siloam's shady Rill'

216

(1)

JOHN KEBLE (1792-1866)

177. (Morning Hymn) (New every morning is the love)

217

(1)

178. 'Fill high the boml'

217

(2)

179. (Epithalamium)

219

(1)

HENRY FRANCIS LYTE (1793-1847)

180. 'Abide with me'

220

(1)

181. Psalm 103. 'Praise the Lord, O my soul' (Praise, my soul, the King of heaven)

221

(1)

JOHN CLARE (1793-1864)

182. Lord, Hear my Prayer

222

(1)

THOMAS BINNEY (1798-1814)

183. Eternal Light

223

(1)

JOHN HENRY NEWMAN (1801-1890)

184. from The Dream of Gerontius (Praise to the holiest in the height)

224

(1)

185. (Guidance) (Lead, kindly light)

225

(1)

JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTLER (1807-1892)

186. The Over-Heart

226

(2)

187. The Call of the Christian

228

(1)

188. from The Eternal Goodness

229

(1)

189. from The Brewing of Soma

230

(1)

190. Worship

231

(2)

ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON (1809-1892)

191. from In Memoriam

233

(3)

JONES VERY (1813-1880)

192. The Created

236

(1)

JOHN MASON NEALE (1818-1886)

193. 'Oh, give us back the days of old'

236

(1)

JULIA WARD HOWE (1819-1910)

194. Battle-Hymn of the Republic

237

(1)

WILLIAM WHITING (1825-1878)

195. 'Eternal Father, strong to save'

238

(1)

EMILY DICKINSON (1830-1886)

196. 'Our journey had advanced'

239

(1)

197. 'I shall know why'

239

(1)

198. 'Bring me the sunset in a cup'

240

(1)

199. 'We thirst at first'

240

(1)

200. 'Just lost when 1 was saved'

241

(1)

201. 'I stepped from plank to plank'

241

(1)

202. 'To learn the transport by the pain'

241

(1)

203. "Tis so much joy!'

242

(1)

204. 'It is an honorable thought'

243

(1)

205. 'Heaven is what I cannot reach'

243

(1)

206. 'Read, sweet, how others strove'

243

(1)

207. 'I should have been too glad'

244

(1)

208. 'Great streets of silence led away'

244

(1)

209. 'He fumbles at your soul'

245

(1)

210. 'Immortal is an ample word'

245

(1)

211. 'Remorse is memory awake'

245

(1)

212. 'The only news I know'

246

(1)

213. 'He preached upon "Breadth"'

246

(1)

ANONYMOUS (19TH CENTURY

214. The Bitter Withy

247

(1)

CHRISTINA ROSSETTI (1830-1894)

215. Easter Monday

248

(1)

216. St Peter

249

(1)

GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS (I844-I889)

217. Heaven-Haven

249

(1)

218. 'As kingfishers catch fire'

249

(1)

219. 'I wake and feel the fell of dark'

250

(1)

220. In the Valley of the Elwy

250

(1)

ALICE MEYNELL (1847-1922)

221. A General Communion

251

(1)

222. The Fugitive

251

(1)

223. In Portugal, 1912

252

(1)

ROBERT BRIDGES (1844-1930)

224. Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913

252

(1)

225. Low Barometer

253

(1)

JOHN MEADE FALKNER (1858-1922)

226. Christmas Day. The Family Sitting

254

(2)

FRANCIS THOMPSON (1859-1907)

227. The Kingdom of God

256

(1)

CHARLES WILLIAMS (1886-1945)

228. At the 'Ye that do truly'

257

(1)

CLIFFORD BAX (1886-1962)

229. 'Turn back, O man'

258

(1)

H.D. (HILDA DOOLITTLE) (1886-1961)

230. from Sagesse

258

(2)

T.S. ELIOT (1888-1965)

231. Journey of the Magi

260

(1)

232. A Song for Simeon

261

(1)

233. Marina

262

(1)

234. Usk

263

(1)

EDWIN MUIR (1887-1958)

235. The Annunciation

264

(1)

ELIZABETH DARYUSH (1887-1977)

236. 'How on solemn, fields of space'

265

(1)

DAVID JONES (1895-1974)

237. A, a, a, Domine Deus

265

(1)

JOHN BROOKS WHEELWRIGHT (1897-1940)

238. from Forty Days (The Second Ascension of Christ)

266

(3)

JANET LEWIS (1899- )

239. A Lullaby

269

(1)

STEVIE SMITH (1902-1971)

240. The Airy Christ

270

(1)

PADRAIC FALLON (1905-1974)

241. Mater Dei

271

(1)

ROBERT PENN WARREN (1905-1989)

242. Original Sin: A Short Story

272

(1)

SIR JOHN BETJEMAN (1906-1984)

243. Sunday Afternoon Service in St Enodoc Church, Cornwall

273

(3)

W.H. AUDEN (1907-1914)

244. The Shield of Achilles

276

(2)

245. Anthem

278

(1)

246. Amor Loci

279

(1)

F.T. PRINCE (1912- )

247. Soldiers Bathing

280

(2)

R.S. THOMAS (1913- )

248. The Hand

282

(1)

249. The Porch

283

(1)

C.H. SISSON (1914- )

250. Knole

283

(1)

251. A Letter to John Donne

284

(1)

252. The Usk

285

(2)

253. Cato

287

(1)

JOHN BERRYMAN (1914-1972)

254. (Alcoholic)

288

(1)

JACK CLEMO (1916- )

255. 'Neither Shadow of Turning'

289

(1)

256. Mould of Castile

289

(1)

257. Growing in Grace

290

(1)

258. On the Death of Karl Barth

291

(1)

ANONYMOUS (c. 1935)

259. The Heavenly Aeroplane

292

(1)

JAMES MCAULEY (1917-1976)

260. An Art of Poetry

293

(1)

261. New Guinea

294

(1)

CLIFF ASHBY (1918- )

262. Latter Day Psalms

295

(2)

263. A Stranger in this Land

297

(1)

ELIZABETH JENNINGS (1926- )

264. In a Garden

297

(1)

THOMAS KINSELLA (1928- )

265. The Dispossessed

298

(1)

GEOFFREY HILL (1932-

266. Christmas Trees

299

(1)

267. Lachrimae Amantis

299

(1)

WENDELL BERRY (1934-

268. The Slip

300

(1)

PETER DALE (1938-

269. from The Fragments

301

(2)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

303

(4)

NOTES AND REFERENCES

307

(6)

INDEX OF FIRST LINES

313

(6)

INDEX OF AUTHORS

319

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The New Oxford Book of Christian Verse

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials