| Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922. | | | | The Plough | | By Richard Henry Hengist Horne (1802–1884) |
| | A Landscape in Berkshire
ABOVE yon sombre swell of land | |
| Thou see’st the dawn’s grave orange hue, | |
| With one pale streak like yellow sand, | |
| And over that a vein of blue. | |
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| The air is cold above the woods; | 5 |
| All silent is the earth and sky, | |
| Except with his own lonely moods | |
| The blackbird holds a colloquy. | |
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| Over the broad hill creeps a beam, | |
| Like hope that gilds a good man’s brow; | 10 |
| And now ascends the nostril-stream | |
| Of stalwart horses come to plough. | |
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| Ye rigid Ploughmen, bear in mind | |
| Your labour is for future hours: | |
| Advance—spare not—nor look behind— | 15 |
| Plough deep and straight with all your powers! | | | | |
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