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Poem
July 8, 1773
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
An ode addressing Virtue as a distant, heavenly ideal, seeking its guidance to follow the narrow path to moral perfection, curb vain desires, and attain true liberty through Christian faith.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
POETS CORNER.
An ODE to VIRTUE.
Far from the Crowd art thou, O Virtue fled;
Say, in what Cave, or Hermit's lonely Cell,
Dost thou, dear heavenly Sanctifier, dwell?
Teach me, by thy attractive Power, to find
The narrow Path unknown to Half Mankind;
The Path that leads to thy celestial Seat,
In all that's lovely, all that's fair, complete.
Here Saint-like Spirits dwell, and here the few
Receive from thee their long expected Due;
Thrice happy Beings! thus prepar'd to know
The endless Joys that from Perfection grow.
Here let me learn to curb each vain Desire,
And here to holy Rectitude aspire;
Here learn to build my House of heavenly Mould,
Dearer than Life, or Croesus' countless Gold.
Grant me the Ornaments thy Votaries love,
Unspotted Truth, and Wisdom from above,
The noble Frankness, Talents unconfin'd,
The gentle Manners, elevated Mind,
The Soul sincere that never knows Disguise,
And starts from Guilt with Horror and Surprize:
Teach me to rise from earthly Views to thee,
And gain, through Christian Faith, true Liberty.
An ODE to VIRTUE.
Far from the Crowd art thou, O Virtue fled;
Say, in what Cave, or Hermit's lonely Cell,
Dost thou, dear heavenly Sanctifier, dwell?
Teach me, by thy attractive Power, to find
The narrow Path unknown to Half Mankind;
The Path that leads to thy celestial Seat,
In all that's lovely, all that's fair, complete.
Here Saint-like Spirits dwell, and here the few
Receive from thee their long expected Due;
Thrice happy Beings! thus prepar'd to know
The endless Joys that from Perfection grow.
Here let me learn to curb each vain Desire,
And here to holy Rectitude aspire;
Here learn to build my House of heavenly Mould,
Dearer than Life, or Croesus' countless Gold.
Grant me the Ornaments thy Votaries love,
Unspotted Truth, and Wisdom from above,
The noble Frankness, Talents unconfin'd,
The gentle Manners, elevated Mind,
The Soul sincere that never knows Disguise,
And starts from Guilt with Horror and Surprize:
Teach me to rise from earthly Views to thee,
And gain, through Christian Faith, true Liberty.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Ode To Virtue
Moral Perfection
Christian Faith
Heavenly Path
Rectitude Aspire
Poem Details
Title
An Ode To Virtue.
Subject
To Virtue
Key Lines
Far From The Crowd Art Thou, O Virtue Fled;
Teach Me, By Thy Attractive Power, To Find
The Narrow Path Unknown To Half Mankind;
Grant Me The Ornaments Thy Votaries Love,
Unspotted Truth, And Wisdom From Above,
Teach Me To Rise From Earthly Views To Thee,
And Gain, Through Christian Faith, True Liberty.