To Cowper and other poems : autograph manuscript of 9 poems, signed, 1842–1845
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1900
“A Hymn” (pp. 8–11)
Dated 10 September 1843, when Brontë was twenty-three. First published in Poems (1846) with title “The Doubter’s Prayer.” Poem 23 in Chitham (1979).
“The Captive Dove” (pp. 11–13)
Dated 31 October 1843, but “Mostly written in the spring of 1842,” when Brontë was twenty-two. First published in Poems (1846). Poem 24 in Chitham (1979).
Will strength and holy joy impart
A shield of safety o’er my head
A spring of comfort in my heart –
A Brontë Sept 10th 1843
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The Captive Dove
Poor restless Dove I [pitty] pity thee
And when I hear thy plaintive moan
I’ll mourn for thy captivity,
And in thy woes forget mine own
To see thee stand prepared to fly
And flap those useless wings of thine
And gaze into the distant sky
Would melt a harder heart than mine
In vain! In vain! Thou canst not rise –
Thy prison roof confines thee there
Text as published in Poems (1846)
Will strength and holy joy impart:
A shield of safety o’er my head,
A spring of comfort in my heart.
THE CAPTIVE DOVE.
Poor restless dove, I pity thee;
And when I hear thy plaintive moan,
I mourn for thy captivity,
And in thy woes forget mine own.
To see thee stand prepared to fly,
And flap those useless wings of thine,
And gaze into the distant sky,
Would melt a harder heart than mine.
In vain—in vain! Thou canst not rise:
Thy prison roof confines thee there;
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