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Read more poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins: Gerard Manley Hopkins Poems at Poetry X.

          The poet wishes well to the divine genius of Purcell 
          and praises him that, whereas other musicians have 
          given utterance to the moods of man's mind, he has, 
          beyond that, uttered in notes the very make and 
          species of man as created both in him and in all men 
          generally.


Have, fair fallen, O fair, fair have fallen, so dear
To me, so arch-especial a spirit as heaves in Henry Purcell,
An age is now since passed, since parted; with the reversal
Of the outward sentence low lays him, listed to a heresy, here. 
Not mood in him nor meaning, proud fire or sacred fear,
Or love or pity or all that sweet notes not his might nursle:
It is the forgèd feature finds me; it is the rehearsal
Of own, of abrupt self there so thrusts on, so throngs the ear. 

Let him Oh! with his air of angels then lift me, lay me! only I'll
Have an eye to the sakes of him, quaint moonmarks, to his pelted plumage under
Wings: so some great stormfowl, whenever he has walked his while 

The thunder-purple seabeach plumèd purple-of-thunder,
If a wuthering of his palmy snow-pinions scatter a colossal smile
Off him, but meaning motion fans fresh our wits with wonder. 

Added: 12 Aug 2002 | Last Read: 2 Dec 2008 8:00 PM | Viewed: 1956 times

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