New Poems, and Variant Readings
Transcribed from the 1918 Chatto & Windus edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
LONDON CHATTO & WINDUS 1918
All Stevensonians owe a debt of gratitude to the Bibliophile Society of Boston for having discovered the following poems and given them light in a privately printed edition, thus making them known, in fact, to the world at large. Otherwise they would have remained scattered and hidden indefinitely in the hands of various collectors. They will be found extraordinarily interesting in their self-revelation, and some, indeed, are so intimate and personal that one understands why Stevenson withheld them from all eyes save his own. The love-poems in particular, though they are of very unequal merit, possess in common a really affecting sincerity. That Stevenson should have preserved these poems through all the vicissitudes of his wandering life shows how dearly he must have valued them; and shows, too, I think, beyond any contradiction, that he meant they should be ultimately published.
LLOYD OSBOURNE.
I ask good things that I detest, With speeches fair; Heed not, I pray Thee, Lord, my breast, But hear my prayer.
I say ill things I would not say— Things unaware: Regard my breast, Lord, in Thy day, And not my prayer.
My heart is evil in Thy sight: My good thoughts flee: O Lord, I cannot wish aright— Wish Thou for me.
O bend my words and acts to Thee, However ill, That I, whate’er I say or be, May serve Thee still.
O let my thoughts abide in Thee Lest I should fall: Show me Thyself in all I see, Thou Lord of all.
Lo! in thine honest eyes I read The auspicious beacon that shall lead, After long sailing in deep seas, To quiet havens in June ease.
Thy voice sings like an inland bird First by the seaworn sailor heard; And like road sheltered from life’s sea Thine honest heart is unto me.
Robert Louis Stevenson
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LO! IN THINE HONEST EYES I READ
THOUGH DEEP INDIFFERENCE SHOULD DROWSE
MY HEART, WHEN FIRST THE BLACK-BIRD SINGS
I DREAMED OF FOREST ALLEYS FAIR
I.
II.
III.
ST. MARTIN’S SUMMER
DEDICATION
THE OLD CHIMÆRAS, OLD RECEIPTS
TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF NORTHERN LIGHTS
I KNOW NOT HOW, BUT AS I COUNT
THE SUMMER SUN SHONE ROUND ME
YOU LOOKED SO TEMPTING IN THE PEW
DUDDINGSTONE
AWAY WITH FUNERAL MUSIC
HAD I THE POWER THAT HAVE THE WILL
TO OTTILIE
THE WIND IS WITHOUT THERE AND HOWLS IN THE TREES
SWALLOWS TRAVEL TO AND FRO
TO MESDAMES ZASSETSKY AND GARSCHINE
MUSIC AT THE VILLA MARINA
FEAR NOT, DEAR FRIEND, BUT FREELY LIVE YOUR DAYS
LET LOVE GO, IF GO SHE WILL
I DO NOT FEAR TO OWN ME KIN
VOLUNTARY
IN THE GREEN AND GALLANT SPRING
TO CHARLES BAXTER
I WHO ALL THE WINTER THROUGH
LOVE, WHAT IS LOVE?
SOON OUR FRIENDS PERISH
AS ONE WHO HAVING WANDERED ALL NIGHT LONG
THE WIND BLEW SHRILL AND SMART
THE COCK’S CLEAR VOICE INTO THE CLEARER AIR
NOW WHEN THE NUMBER OF MY YEARS
WHAT MAN MAY LEARN, WHAT MAN MAY DO
SMALL IS THE TRUST WHEN LOVE IS GREEN
KNOW YOU THE RIVER NEAR TO GREZ
IT’S FORTH ACROSS THE ROARING FOAM
THE PIPER
TO MRS. MACMARLAND
TO MISS CORNISH
STILL I LOVE TO RHYME
LONG TIME I LAY IN LITTLE EASE
FLOWER GOD, GOD OF THE SPRING
COME, MY BELOVED, HEAR FROM ME
SINCE YEARS AGO FOR EVERMORE
ENVOY FOR “A CHILD’S GARDEN OF VERSES”
HAIL, GUEST, AND ENTER FREELY!
SO LIVE, SO LOVE, SO USE THAT FRAGILE HOUR
BEFORE THIS LITTLE GIFT WAS COME
MY LOVE WAS WARM
FAREWELL
COME, MY LITTLE CHILDREN, HERE ARE SONGS FOR YOU
EARLY IN THE MORNING I HEAR ON YOUR PIANO
LOUD AND LOW IN THE CHIMNEY
AT LAST SHE COMES
MINE EYES WERE SWIFT TO KNOW THEE
FIXED IS THE DOOM
MEN ARE HEAVEN’S PIERS
THE ANGLER ROSE, HE TOOK HIS ROD
TO WHAT SHALL I COMPARE HER?
TO FRIENDS AT HOME
TEMPEST TOSSED AND SORE AFFLICTED
SINCE THOU HAST GIVEN ME THIS GOOD HOPE, O GOD
COME, HERE IS ADIEU TO THE CITY
NE SIT ANCILLÆ TIBI AMOR PUDOR
TO ALL THAT LOVE THE FAR AND BLUE
NOW BARE TO THE BEHOLDER’S EYE
SONNETS
I.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VIII.
AIR OF DIABELLI’S
EPITAPHIUM EROTII
AD MAGISTRUM LUDI
DE LIGURRA
IN LUPUM
AD QUINTILIANUM
DE HORTIS JULII MARTIALIS
IN MAXIMUM
AD OLUM
DE CŒNATIONE MICÆ
AD PISCATOREM