Poems

A selection of poems notable for frequency of appearance, significance to their miscellany context, or meta-reflection on the subject of compiling a poetry book

Displaying 176–193 poems out of 193 total

Search for keywords within first line, transcription, description, or author name. For exact phrases, use quotation marks (e.g. “A knife dear girl”)

First Line Author Description Manuscripts
Whilst half asleep my Chloe lies Soame Jenyns

Lyric; Ode [Love; Women]. 

Transcribed by Jenyns, Soame, "Given to a Lady with a watch which she borrowed to hand at her bed's head." The works of Soame Jenyns, Esq. In four volumes. Including several pieces never before published. To which are prefixed, short sketches of the history of the author's family, and also of his life, 1790, pp. 180–181. Eighteenth Century Collections Online, GALE|CW0114855032. 

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Whilst well-wrote lines our wond'ring eyes command Soame Jenyns

Ode [Literature; Love; Women]. 

Transcribed from Jenyns, Soame, "To a Lady, In answer to a Letter wrote in a very fine Hand." Poems. By *****, 1752, pp. 127–129. Eighteenth Century Collections Online, GALE|CW0111724490. 

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White as her hand fair Julia threw Soame Jenyns

Translation; ode [Love]. 

Transcribed from Jenyns, Soame, "The Snow-ball, from Petronius Afranius." Poems. By *****, 1752, p. 174. Eighteenth Century Collections Online, GALE|CW0111724490. 

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Who e'er is at Crewe Charles Burney (1726–1814)

Occasional (request for contributions to an album) [Literature; Local interest].

Transcribed from Beinecke Osborn d49, pp. 253–256. 

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Who many a sturdy Oak has laid along

Epitaph [Public affairs; Humour, wordplay; Nature].

Transcribed from "John Sprong..." Universal Spectator and Weekly Journal, issue 450, 21 May 1737, p. 4. Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Burney Newspapers Collection, GALE|Z2001497430.

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Whoe'er like me, with trembling anguish brings William Mason

Elegy; Epitaph [Illness; Death, afterlife; Love]. 

Transcribed from Shiercliff, Edward. The bristol and Hotwell guide: containing an historical account of the ancient and present state of that opulent city; also of the Hotwell...,1793, pp. 77–78. Eighteenth Century Collections Online, GALE|CW0100872204. 

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Why does the Fair this Task impose

Occasional (Request for a poem) [Humour, wordplay; Love].

Transcribed from "To a young Lady, who desir'd a Mathematician to make her some Verses." Miscellaneous poems, by several hands, published by D. Lewis, 1730, pp. 190–193. Eighteenth Century Collections Online, GALE|CW0112957041.

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Why droops the head, why languishes the eye Peter Pinnell

Hymn [Devotional material, religious belief].

Transcribed from "A SERMON in VERSE." The Gentleman's Magazine: and historical chronicle, vol. 29, January 1759, pp. 29-30. British Periodicals, [ProQuest document ID:] 8570575.

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Why mourns my friend! why weeps his downcast eye? William Shenstone

Elegy [Friendship; Love].

Transcribed from Shenstone, William. "Elegy XXVI. Describing the sorrow of an ingenuous mind, on the melancholy event of a licentious amour." The works in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq:... vol. 1, 1764, pp. 97–101. Eighteenth Century Collections Online, GALE|CW0114988158.

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Why should our joys transform to pain; Isaac Watts

Narrative. [Love; Passions, sentiments]

Transcribed from Commonplace Books, Vol. 2. Early Modern English Manuscripts, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, Calisphere. Item ID 21198/n1ns42

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Why start? the Case is yours, or will be soon

Epitaph [Death, afterlife; Conduct, morality].

Usually paired with poem on a lady's skull, "Blush not, ye Fair, to own me, but be wise..."

Transcribed from "On a Gentleman." Select and remarkable epitaphs on illustrious and other persons.... vol. 2, ed. John Hackett, 1757, pp. 93–94. Eighteenth Century Collections Online, GALE|CW0102442998.

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Wife and Servant are the same Mary Chudleigh

Essay [Women; Courtship, marriage]. 

Transcribed from Chudleigh, Mary Lee. Poems on Several Occasions. Together with the Song of the Three Children Paraphras'd. By the Lady Chudleigh, 1703. Eighteenth Century Collections Online, GALE|CB0127582056. 

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With sense enough for half your sex beside John Langhorne

Lyric [Love].

Transcribed from Langhorne, John. "To Mrs. Gillman." The poetical works of John Langhorne. In two volumes, vol. 1, 1766, pp. 137–138. Eighteenth Century Collections Online, GALE|CW0111847911.

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Without preamble, to my friend Isabella Howard

Answer [Passions]. 

Often follows Greville Crewe's "Oft I've implor'd the gods in vain..."

Transcribed from The Countess of C[arlisle], "The Fairy's Answer to Mrs. Greville." A collection of poems in four volumes... ed. 2, vol. 1, pp. 306–309. Eighteenth Century Collections Online, GALE|CW0115307555.

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Wou'd you think it, my Duck! (for the fault I must own) Jenny Hamilton Moore

Song [Courtship, marriage; Humour, wordplay; Women; Friendship]. 

Transcribed from "Miss HAM—N to Miss DUCK." The Gentleman's Magazine: and historical chronicle, vol. 19 November 1749, p. 516. British Periodicals, [ProQuest document ID:] 8473480. 

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Ye distant Spires, ye antique Towers Thomas Gray

Ode [Education; Passions, sentiments].

Transcribed from Gray, Thomas. An Ode On a Distant Prospect of Eton College, 1747. Eighteenth Century Collections Online, GALE|CW0113877223.

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Ye Nymphs of Solyma! begin the song Alexander Pope

Pastoral [Devotional writing, religious belief].

Transcribed from Pope, Alexander. "Messiah A Sacred Eclogue, in imitation of Virgil's Pollio." The works of Mr. Alexander Pope, 1717, pp. 35–40. Eighteenth Century Collections Online, GALE|CW0110765267.

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Ye weeping muses, graces, virtues tell George Lyttelton

Elegy [Celebrities; Public affairs].

Transcribed from Lyttleton, George. "Inscription intended for the Monument of Captain Grenville." London magazine: or, Gentleman's Monthly Intelligencer, 1 November 1749, p. 523. American Antiquarian Society, accession number 33978018. 

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