“’Tis strange to think”, p. 16
To Cowper and other poems : autograph manuscript of 9 poems, signed, 1842–1845
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1900
“The Consolation” (pp. 13–16)
Dated 7 November 1843, when Brontë was twenty-three. Written in the voice of Hespera Caverndel, a character in the Gondal saga. First published in Poems (1846). Published in Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey (London: Smith Elder, 1850) with title “Lines Written from Home” and revisions by Charlotte Brontë. Poem 25 in Chitham (1979); also published in The Brontës: Tales of Glass Town, Angria, and Gondal. Selected Writings, ed. Christine Alexander (Oxford University Press, 2010), pp. 466–67.
“’Tis strange to think” (pp. 16–18)
Dated 21 November 1843, when Brontë was twenty-three. First published in Poems (1846) with title “Past Days.” Poem 26 in Chitham (1979).
to me
My heart shall never know despare
——————
Hespera Caverndel Anne Brontë Nov. 7th 1843
T’is Strange to Think
’Tis strange to think there was a time
When mirth was not an empty name
When laughter really cheered the heart
And frequent smiles unbidden came
And tears of grief would only flow
In sympathy for others’ wo.
When speech expressed the inward thought
And heart, to kindred heart was bare
And Summer days were far too short
For all the pleasures crowded there
Text as published in Poems (1846)
To me,
My heart shall never know despair!
PAST DAYS.
’Tis strange to think, there was a time
When mirth was not an empty name,
When laughter really cheered the heart,
And frequent smiles unbidden came,
And tears of grief would only flow
In sympathy for others’ woe;
When speech expressed the inward thought,
And heart to kindred heart was bare,
And Summer days were far too short
For all the pleasures crowded there,
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 BronteMA28.pdf | 15.07 MB |
“’Tis strange to think”, p. 17
To Cowper and other poems : autograph manuscript of 9 poems, signed, 1842–1845
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1900
“’Tis strange to think” (pp. 16–18)
Dated 21 November 1843, when Brontë was twenty-three. First published in Poems (1846) with title “Past Days.” Poem 26 in Chitham (1979).
And Silence, Solitude and rest
Now welcome to the weary breast
Were all unprized uncourted then
And all the joy one spirit showed
The other warmly deeply felt again
And friendship like a river flowed
Constant and strong its silent course
For nought withstood its gentle force
When night the holy time of peace
Was dreaded as the parting hour
When friendly intercourse must cease
And Silence must resume her power
Though ever free from pains and woes
She only brought us calm repose
And when the blessed dawn of day again
Brought daylight to the blushing skies
We woke but and not reluctant then
To joyless labour did we rise
Text as published in Poems (1846)
And silence, solitude, and rest,
Now welcome to the weary breast—
Were all unprized, uncourted then—
And all the joy one spirit showed,
The other deeply felt again;
And friendship like a river flowed,
Constant and strong its silent course,
For nought withstood its gentle force:
When night, the holy time of peace,
Was dreaded as the parting hour;
When speech and mirth at once must cease,
And Silence must resume her power;
Though ever free from pains and woes,
She only brought us calm repose.
And when the blessed dawn again
Brought daylight to the blushing skies,
We woke, and not reluctant then,
To joyless labour did we rise;
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| BronteMA28.pdf | 15.07 MB |