Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde

Including The Ballad of Reading Gaol

'The Ballad of Reading Gaol' was first published by Leonard Smithers,
February 13th, 1898.

Wilde’s Poems were first published in volume form in 1881, and were reprinted four times before the end of 1882. A new edition with additional poems, including Ravenna, The Sphinx, and The Ballad of Reading Gaol, was first published by Methuen & Co. in March 1908.

PREFACE
It is thought that a selection from Oscar Wilde’s early verses may be of interest to a large public at present familiar only with the always popular Ballad of Reading Gaol, also included in this volume.

CONTENTS

PREFACE v
THE BALLAD OF READING GAOL (Complete Version) 1
THE BALLAD OF READING GAOL (Shorter Version) 61
AVE IMPERATRIX 89
TO MY WIFE (WITH A COPY OF MY POEMS) 100
MAGDALEN WALKS 102
THEOCRITUS—A VILLANELLE 106
SONNETS—
GREECE 108
PORTIA (TO ELLEN TERRY) 110
FABIEN DEI FRANCHI (TO HENRY IRVING) 112
PHÈDRE (TO SARAH BERNHARDT) 114
ON HEARING THE DIES IRÆ SUNG IN THE 116
SISTINE CHAPEL
AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA 118
LIBERTATIS SACRA FAMES 120
ROSES AND RUE 122
FROM ‘THE GARDEN OF EROS’ 128
THE HARLOT’S HOUSE 140
FROM ‘THE BURDEN OF ITYS’ 144
FLOWER OF LOVE 158

NOTE
At the end of the complete text will be found a shorter version based on the original draft of the poem. This is included for the benefit of reciters and their audiences who have found the entire poem too long for declamation. Robert RossHe does not sit with silent men
Who watch him night and day;
Who watch him when he tries to weep,

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