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Coventry Patmore - The Angel In The House. Book II. Canto I.
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Preludes.

I The Song of Songs 
              The pulse of War, whose bloody heats
              Sane purposes insanely work,
              Now with fraternal frenzy beats,
              And binds the Christian to the Turk,
              And shrieking fifes and braggart flags,
              Through quiet England, teach our breath
              The courage corporate that drags
              The coward to heroic death.
              Too late for song! Who henceforth sings,
               Must fledge his heavenly flight with more
               Song-worthy and heroic things
               Than hasty, home-destroying war.
               While might and right are not agreed,
               And battle thus is yet to wage,
               So long let laurels be the meed
               Of soldier as of poet sage;
               But men expect the Tale of Love,
               And weary of the Tale of Hate;
               Lift me, O Muse, myself above,
               And let the world no longer wait!

    
II The Kites 
               I saw three Cupids (so I dream`d),
               Who made three kites, on which were drawn,
               In letters that like roses gleam`d,
               ‘Plato,’ ‘Anacreon,’ and ‘Vaughan.’
               The boy who held by Plato tried
               His airy venture first; all sail,
               It heav`nward rush`d till scarce descried,
               Then pitch`d and dropp`d, for want of tail.
               Anacreon`s Love, with shouts of mirth
               That pride of spirit thus should fall,
               To his kite link`d a lump of earth,
               And, lo, it would not soar at all.
               Last, my disciple freighted his
               With a long streamer made of flowers,
               The children of the sod, and this
               Rose in the sun, and flew for hours.

III Orpheus 
               The music of the Sirens found
               Ulysses weak, though cords were strong;
               But happier Orpheus stood unbound,
               And shamed it with a sweeter song.
               His mode be mine. Of Heav`n I ask,
               May I, with heart-persuading might,
               Pursue the Poet`s sacred task
               Of superseding faith by sight,
               Till ev`n the witless Gadarene,
               Preferring Christ to swine, shall know
               That life is sweetest when it`s clean.
               To prouder folly let me show    
               Earth by divine light made divine;
               And let the saints, who hear my word,
               Say, ‘Lo, the clouds begin to shine
               ‘About the coming of the Lord!’


IV Nearest the Dearest 
               Till Eve was brought to Adam, he
               A solitary desert trod,
               Though in the great society
               Of nature, angels, and of God.
               If one slight column counterweighs
               The ocean, `tis the Maker`s law,
               Who deems obedience better praise
               Than sacrifice of erring awe.

V Perspective 
               What seems to us for us is true.
               The planet has no proper light,
               And yet, when Venus is in view,
               No primal star is half so bright.


Accepted.

 I
               What fortune did my heart foretell?
               What shook my spirit, as I woke,
               Like the vibration of a bell
               Of which I had not heard the stroke?    
               Was it some happy vision shut
               From memory by the sun`s fresh ray?
               Was it that linnet`s song; or but
               A natural gratitude for day?
               Or the mere joy the senses weave,
               A wayward ecstasy of life?
               Then I remember`d, yester-eve
               I won Honoria for my Wife.

 II
               Forth riding, while as yet the day
               Was dewy, watching Sarum Spire,
               Still beckoning me along my way,
               And growing every minute higher,
               I reach`d the Dean`s. One blind was down,
               Though nine then struck. My bride to be!
               And had she rested ill, my own,
               With thinking (oh, my heart!) of me?
               I paced the streets; a pistol chose,
               To guard my now important life
               When riding late from Sarum Close;
               At noon return`d. Good Mrs. Fife,
               To my, ‘The Dean, is he at home?’
               Said, ‘No, Sir; but Miss Honor is;’
               And straight, not asking if I`d come,
               Announced me, ‘Mr. Felix, Miss,’
               To Mildred, in the Study. There
               We talk`d, she working. We agreed
               The day was fine; the Fancy-Fair
               Successful; ‘Did I ever read
               ‘De Genlis?’ ‘Never.’ ‘Do! She heard
               ‘I was engaged.’ ‘To whom?’ ‘Miss Fry.’
               ‘Was it the fact?’ ‘No!’ ‘On my word?’
                ‘What scandal people talk`d!’ ‘Would I
                ‘Hold out this skein of silk.’ So pass`d
                I knew not how much time away.    
                ‘How were her sisters?’ ‘Well.’ At last
                I summon`d heart enough to say,
                ‘I hoped to see Miss Churchill too.’
                ‘Miss Churchill, Felix! What is this?
                ‘I said, and now I find `tis true,
                ‘Last night you quarrell`d! Here she is.’


 III
                She came, and seem`d a morning rose
                When ruffling rain has paled its blush;
                Her crown once more was on her brows;
                And, with a faint, indignant flush,
                And fainter smile, she gave her hand,
                But not her eyes, then sate apart,
                As if to make me understand
                The honour of her vanquish`d heart.
                But I drew humbly to her side;
                And she, well pleased, perceiving me
                Liege ever to the noble pride
                Of her unconquer`d majesty,
                Once and for all put it away;
                The faint flush pass`d; and, thereupon,
                Her loveliness, which rather lay
                In light than colour, smiled and shone,
                Till sick was all my soul with bliss;
                Or was it with remorse and ire
                Of such a sanctity as this
                Subdued by love to my desire?
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