The Poems of Patrick Branwell Brontë

A New Text and Commentary

Victor A. Neufeldt

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2015
• eBook ISBN: 9781317400455
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

The Poems of Patrick Branwell Brontë, first published in 1990, provides a collection of Branwell Brontë's poetry, as well as a detailed history of the use and locations of his manuscripts, the story of their publication over the years, and a commentary of the poetry itself. This edition will be of interest to students of English Literature.

THE POEMS

1 Oh may America

Yeild to our Monarchs sway—,

And No more contend &

May they their interest see

With England to agree 5

And from oppression frre—

All that amend

[January 1829]

MS: A

First Publication: Ratchford Web

Text: 1. 6: “free” obviously intended

2 DIRGE OF THE GENii—*

THUS I begin my song—

The Genii all are gone—

Theyre gone gone gone—

Gone for ever gone—

The sky is blackning— 5

+Its rain pours down—

Its tears for the Genii—

while we are dancing rond

while we are dancing rond

wile the merry bagpips sound 10

answer to our triping feet

above below around—

So hurra O ye Genii—

Ye have got your maches now

Alas once to your Feiry eye 15

all all the earth did bow—

but now O ye Genii—

ye are laid in your graves

& above below around you

do dance the merry knaves 20

thus I do end my song—

the Genii all are gone—

there gone gone gone—

gone for ever gone—

+should be The sky it is <bl—>

The clouds porus down

[June 1829]

MS: A

First Publication: Ratchford Web, in facsimile

Text: 11. 9 and 10 are badly blotted

* For a glossary of Glass Town/Angrian person and place names, see Appendix D

3 the bill it [h] as past

at last at last—

it has past like the sun in his glory

in my mind I cast

that it would not have past 5

or else two[u]ld have pased gory

[June 1829]

MS: A

Not previously published

4 If you live by the sunny Fountain—

if you live in the streets of a town

if you live on the top of a mountain

or if you wear a crown—

—The Genii meddle with you 5

Think not that in your graves

you will be quiet there—

For Genii come with spades

To dig you up they dare

Genii will meddle with you 10

even if in your palaces—

among your courteir[s] there

The genii meddle with you—

For mischief is there care—

Genii must meddle with you 15

Come Britons then arise—

and let your swords be bare

of wich the geniis blood—

let them be covered fair—

—They shall not meddle with you 20

[June 1829]

MS: A

First Publication: Ratchford Web, partial

5 One day I went out awalking

and I saw a sheet of fire

hovering oere the mountian

kindled was my are

It blazed upon the mountain 5

and upon the castle wall—

It blazed upon the Ocean—

& the distant coast of Gall—

then suddenly it flew afar

over Africs desart sand 10

till it seemed like the even star

I saw it streech its wand—

upon a caravan of Arabs—

I saw him streech his hand

so that they every one did die 15

by the stroke of his great wand

I saw it was a Genius now

so that I ran away—

For fear that he should let me know

if this was my last day— 20

[July 1829]

MS: A

First Publication: Ratchford Web, partial

Text: l. 4: “are”—“ire” probably intended

6 High minded Frenchmen love not the ghost

who rides on the clouds of war

with the eye of an eagle he views your hosts

and grins with delight from far

For the time in his powerful mind he sees 5

when like a slave before him led

the kingdom of France shall bow at his knees

& gloryfy him as its head

Though at this time his brow ma<y> not lour

he looks to the future with Joy 10

when from his high embattled tower

in his terrible might he shall cry

Kingdom of France I bid thee beware

at the storm which is drawing nigh

Look at the troubled & darkening air 15

Look at the wrath in mine eye

Young Soult July 17 1829

MS: B(1)

First Publication: Winnifrith PCB

7 O when shall our brave land be free

when shall our castles rise

in pure & glorious liberty

before our joyful eyes

How long shall tyrants ride in state 5

upon the thundercloud

the arbiters of Englands fate

and of her nobles proud

Thou sun of liberty arise—

upon our beauteous land 10

terrible vengeance rend the skys

let tyrants feel they hand

let tyrants feel thy han...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Original Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Acknowledgements
• List of Abbreviations
• List of Manuscript Locations
• Publications Containing Previously Unpublished Poems by Branwell Brontë
• INTRODUCTION
• THE POEMS
• APPENDIXES
• COMMENTARY
• Index of First Lines and Titles