Metaphysical & Cavalier

Edmund Waller

1606–1687


Edmund Waller (1606–1687) was an English poet and politician whose smooth, regular couplets influenced the coming Augustan style.

He wrote equally fluent verse for both sides of the Civil War, a flexibility that shadowed his reputation.

  1. TO THE KING On His NAVY.
  2. Of the danger His Majesty (being Prince) escaped in the Road at Saint Andrews.
  3. Of His Majesties receiving the News of the Duke of Buckingham's Death.
  4. To the Queen, occasioned upon sight of Her Majesties Picture.
  5. Vpon His Majesties repairing of Pauls.
  6. The Country to my Lady of Carlisle.
  7. The Countess of Carlisle in Mourning.
  8. In answer to one who Writ against a fair Lady.
  9. On my Lady Dorothy Sidneys Picture.
  10. To Vandike.
  11. Of the Lady who can sleep when she pleases.
  12. Of the mis-report of her being Painted.
  13. Of her passing through a crowd of People.
  14. The Story of Phoebus and Daphne applied.
  15. Fabula Phoebi & Daphnis.
  16. Of Mrs. Arden.
  17. To Amoret.
  18. On the Head of a Stag.
  19. To a Lady in a Garden.
  20. The Misers Speech in a Masque.
  21. On the Friendship betwixt two Ladies.
  22. Of her Chamber.
  23. Of Loving at first sight.
  24. The Self Banished.
  25. SONG.
  26. Thirsis, Galatea.
  27. Canto II.
  28. Canto III.
  29. SONG.
  30. Of Love.
  31. To Phillis.
  32. To Phillis.
  33. SONG.
  34. SONG.
  35. To Amoret.
  36. To my Lord of Falkland.
  37. For Drinking of Healths.
  38. On my Lady Isabella playing on the Lute.
  39. To a Lady singing a Song of his Composing.
  40. Of the marriage of the Dwarfs.
  41. Loves farewel.
  42. From a Child.
  43. On a Girdle.
  44. The Apology of Sleep.
  45. At Pens-hurst.
  46. Another.
  47. To my Lord of Leicester.
  48. To a very young Lady.
  49. SONG.
  50. SONG.
  51. On the discovery of a Ladies Painting.
  52. To a Lady from whom he received a Silver Pen.
  53. On a Brede of divers Colours, woven by four Ladies.
  54. To my Lord of Northumberland upon the death of his Lady.
  55. To my Lord Admiral of his late Sickness and Recovery,
  56. Ala Malade.
  57. Of the Queen.
  58. Vpon the Death of my Lady Rich.
  59. To the Queen-Mother of France upon her Landing.
  60. To the mutable Fair.
  61. Of Salley.
  62. Puerperium.
  63. Of a Lady who writ in praise of Mira.
  64. To one married to an old Man.
  65. To Flavia Song.
  66. The Fall.
  67. Of Silvia.
  68. The Budd.
  69. Upon Ben. Johnson.
  70. To Mr. George Sands, on his translation of some parts of the Bible.
  71. Chlorus and Hilas. Made to a Sarabran.
  72. Under a Ladies Picture.
  73. In Answer Of Sir John Suckling's Verses.
  74. To a Friend of the different success of their Loves.
  75. An Apology for having loved before,
  76. To Zelinda.
  77. On Mr. John Fletcher's Plays.
  78. To Chloris.
  79. On St. James's Park, as lately improved by His Majesty.
  80. To Sir William D'avenant upon his Two fir… Books of Gondibert, written in …rance
  81. To my worthy Friend Mr. Wase, the Translator of Gratius.
  82. To the King, upon His Majesties happy Return.
  83. To my Lady Morton on New-years-day, 16…0. at the Louvre in Paris.
  84. Of a fair Lady pl…ying with a Snake.
  85. To his worthy Friend Master E'velyn, upon his Translation of Lucretius.
  86. Part of the 4th Book of Virgil …, beginning
  87. Of a War with Spain, and a Fight at Sea.
  88. Epitaph to be written under the Latine Inscription upon the Tomb of the Onely Son of the Lord, Andover.
  89. To the Queen, upon Her Majesties Birth-day, after Her Happy Recovery from a Dangerous Sickness.
  90. Instructions to a PAINTER, For the Drawing of the Posture and Progress of His Majesties Forces at Sea, under the Command of His Highness-Royal: Together with the Battel and Victory obtain'd over the DUTCH, Iune 3. 1665.
  91. TO THE KING.
  92. TO A Friend of the AUTHORS, A Person of HONOVR:
  93. To Mr. Henry Lawes, who had then newly set a Song of mine in the Year 1635.
  94. Vpon Her Majesties New Buildings at Somerset-House.
  95. On the Picture of a fair Youth taken after he was dead.
  96. Epigram upon the Golden Medal.
  97. Of a Tree cut in Paper.
  98. To a Lady from whom he received the foregoing Copy which for many years had been lost.
  99. The Night-piece, or a Picture drawn in the dark.
  100. Of English Verse.
  101. Sung by Mrs. Knight, to Her Majesty on Her Birth-day.
  102. To his Worthy Friend Sir Thomas Higgons, upon his Translation of the Venetian Triumph.
  103. Epitaph.
  104. Of Her Royal Highness Mother to the Prince of Orange, and of Her Portraict written by the late Dutchess of York while She lived with Her.
  105. To the Dutchess of Orleans, when She was taking Leave of the Court at Dover.
  106. Written on a Card that Her Majesty tore at Ombra.
  107. To the Dutchess, when he presented this Book to Her Royal Highness.
  108. These Verses were writ in the Tasso of Her Royal Highness.
  109. Upon our late Loss of the Duke of Cambridge.
  110. Translated out of Spanish.
  111. Of the Lady Mary, &c.
  112. To the Servant of a Fair Lady. This Copy of Verses being omitted in the former Edition.
  113. Vpon the Earl of Roscommon's Translation of Horace De Arte Poetica: And of the Use of Poetry.
  114. Epitaph on Sir George Speke.
  115. Of Her Majesty on New-years Day, 1683.
  116. A Presage of the Ruine of the Turkish Empire, Presented to His Majesty on His Birth-Day.
  117. CANTO I.
  118. CANTO II.
  119. CANTO III.
  120. CANTO. IV.
  121. CANTO V.
  122. CANTO VI.
  123. CANTO II.
  124. Of the Paraphrase on the Lords Prayer Written by Mrs. Wharton.
  125. Some Reflections of his upon the several Petitions in the same Prayer.
  126. Of the last Verses in the Book.
  127. On a Painted Lady with Ill Teeth
  128. The Battle of the Summer Islands: Canto I
  129. A Panegyric to My Lord Protector, of the Present Greatness, and Joint Interest, of His Highness, and This Nation.
  130. Upon the Death of the Lord Protector.
  131. Verses to Dr George Rogers, on His Taking the Degree of Doctor of Physic at Padua, in the Year 1664.
  132. The Triple Combat.
  133. On the Duke of Monmouth's Expedition into Scotland in the Summer Solstice.
  134. Of an Elegy Made by Mrs Wharton on the Earl of Rochester.
  135. Of Tea, Commended by Her Majesty.
  136. Of the Invasion and Defeat of the Turks, in the Year 1683.
  137. To Mr Killigrew, upon His Altering His Play, 'Pandora,' from a Tragedy into a Comedy, Because Not Approved on the Stage.
  138. To a Person of Honour, upon His Incomparable, Incomprehensible Poem, Entitled, 'The British Princes.'
  139. To Chloris.
  140. To Mr Creech, on His Translation of 'Lucretius.'
  141. Chloris! Farewell.
  142. Prologue for the Lady-actors. Spoken Before King Charles II.
  143. Prologue to the 'Maid's Tragedy.'
  144. Epilogue to the 'Maid's Tragedy.' Spoken by the King.
  145. Another Epilogue to the 'Maid's Tragedy.' Designed upon the First Alteration of the Play, When the King Only Was Left Alive.
  146. To Mr Granville (Now Lord Lansdowne), on His Verses to King James II.
  147. Long and Short Life.
  148. Translated Out of French.
  149. Some Verses of an Imperfect Copy, Designed for a Friend, on His Translation of Ovid's 'Fasti.'
  150. On the Statue of King Charles I., at Charing Cross, in the Year 1674.
  151. Pride.
  152. Epitaph on the Lady Sedley.
  153. Epitaph Unfinished.
  154. Of the Fear of God: Canto I
  155. Of the Fear of God: Canto II
  156. Of Divine Poesy: Canto I

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