The Angel in the House is a long narrative poem by Coventry Patmore, written in cantos with lyrical preludes. It follows courtship and married love, celebrating home, devotion and domestic virtue in Victorian England. Its gentle reflections on affection and duty make it rewarding for listeners interested in the era's ideals.
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Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
Transcribed from the 1891 Cassell & Company edition by David Price, email [email protected] CASSELL’S NATIONAL LIBRARY THE Angel in the House. BY COVENTRY PATMORE. “Par la grace infinie, Dieu les mist au monde ensemble.” Rousier des Dames. Decorative graphic CASSELL & COMPANY, Limited: LONDON, PARIS & MELBOURNE. 1891. THIS POEM IS INSCRIBED TO THE MEMORY OF HER BY WHOM AND FOR WHOM I BECAME A POET.
INTRODUCTION. There could be but one answer to the suggestion of Mr. Coventry Patmore that his “Angel in the House” might usefully have a place in this “National Library.” The suggestion was made with the belief that wide and cheap diffusion would not take from the value of a copyright library edition, while the best use of writing is fulfilled by the spreading of verse dedicated to the sacred love of home. The two parts of the Poem appeared in 1854 and 1856, were afterwards elaborately revised, and have since obtained a permanent place among the Home Books of the English People. Our readers will join, surely, in thanks to the author for the present he has made us. H. M. CONTENTS BOOK I. PAGE THE PROLOGUE. 13 CANTO I. THE CATHEDRAL CLOSE 17 Preludes: 1. The Impossibility 17 2. Love’s Really 17 3. The Poet’s Confidence 18 The Cathedral Close 19 II. MARY AND MILDRED 24
Preludes: 1. The Paragon 24 2. Love at Large 26 3. Love and Duty 27 4. A Distinction 28 Mary and Mildred 28 III. HONORIA 32 Preludes: 1. The Lover 32 2. Love a Virtue 34 3. The Attainment 34 Honoria 35 IV. THE MORNING CALL 39 Preludes: 1. The Rose of the World 39 2. The Tribute 41 3. Compensation 42 The Morning Call 42 V. THE VIOLETS 46 Preludes: 1. The Comparison 46 2. Love in Tears 48 3. Prospective Faith 48 4. Venus Victrix 49 The Violets 49 VI. THE DEAN 53 Preludes: 1. Perfect Love rare 53
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