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Poem
July 30, 1798
The Gazette
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
Poem from Southey depicting hermit Bizardo's simple, nature-nurtured life in a rocky cell, cultivating herbs and fruits, and lamenting man's cruelty to animals while advocating compassion and vegetarianism.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
POETRY.
The Hermitage of Birds.
[From Southey's Poems]
Rude was Bizardo's cell; the beetling rock
Frowned o'er its ivied entrance; the hewn stone
Formed his rough seat, and on a bed of leaves
The aged hermit took his nightly rest.
A pure stream welling from the mossy rock
Crept murmuring thro' the wood, and many a flower
Drank on each side the genial sap of life.
The rich soil wasted not in worthless weeds
Its nature; for Bizardo's patient hand
Cultured each healing and salubrious herb;
And every fruit that courts the summer sun
Bloomed for the holy hermit's blameless food.
Oft would the sage exclaim, "Ah! why should man,
Stern tyrant of the field, with blood pollute
His festive board? Nature has spread around
The unsully food of life abundantly.
How frolic in the sun yon little fawn!
Strains his young limbs; now browses the sweet grass,
Now o'er the plain leaps lighter, that man's heart
Were hard and alien from humanity
Who could endure to gore his innocent side!
Sport on, poor forester! sport on secure,
Fearless of one, by hard misfortune taught
To feel for others."
The Hermitage of Birds.
[From Southey's Poems]
Rude was Bizardo's cell; the beetling rock
Frowned o'er its ivied entrance; the hewn stone
Formed his rough seat, and on a bed of leaves
The aged hermit took his nightly rest.
A pure stream welling from the mossy rock
Crept murmuring thro' the wood, and many a flower
Drank on each side the genial sap of life.
The rich soil wasted not in worthless weeds
Its nature; for Bizardo's patient hand
Cultured each healing and salubrious herb;
And every fruit that courts the summer sun
Bloomed for the holy hermit's blameless food.
Oft would the sage exclaim, "Ah! why should man,
Stern tyrant of the field, with blood pollute
His festive board? Nature has spread around
The unsully food of life abundantly.
How frolic in the sun yon little fawn!
Strains his young limbs; now browses the sweet grass,
Now o'er the plain leaps lighter, that man's heart
Were hard and alien from humanity
Who could endure to gore his innocent side!
Sport on, poor forester! sport on secure,
Fearless of one, by hard misfortune taught
To feel for others."
What sub-type of article is it?
Pastoral
What themes does it cover?
Nature Seasons
Moral Virtue
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Hermitage
Bizardo
Southey
Nature
Animals
Compassion
Vegetarianism
Hermit Life
What entities or persons were involved?
Southey
Poem Details
Title
The Hermitage Of Birds.
Author
Southey
Key Lines
Oft Would The Sage Exclaim, "Ah! Why Should Man,
Stern Tyrant Of The Field, With Blood Pollute
His Festive Board? Nature Has Spread Around
The Unsully Food Of Life Abundantly.
Sport On, Poor Forester! Sport On Secure,
Fearless Of One, By Hard Misfortune Taught
To Feel For Others."