Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
June 27, 1771
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A mythical debate among gods on what makes mortals great: Mars claims arms, Bacchus wine, Apollo music, Jove wealth, but Pallas declares virtue as the eternal source of true greatness.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
POET'S CORNER.
GREATNESS.
The heavenly Synod once arose
A wondrous strong Debate,
The mighty Secret to disclose,
What makes a Mortal great.
Mars blustered forth, that Love of Arms
Enriched the daring Soul;
And Bacchus swore, the brightest Charms
O'erflowed the sparkling Bowl;
That he who, filled with generous Wine,
Could frolic, laugh, and sing,
Was far more rich, was more divine,
And greater than a King.
Apollo vowed, with Music's Power,
None other could compare;
But Jove produced his golden Shower,
And fixed true Greatness there.
Pallas, to Wisdom ever dear,
Heard gravely what had passed;
The Goddess came prepared to hear,
And Silence broke at last:
Your Shower, she cried, will melt away,
Your Music lose its Charms;
Your sparkling Bowls will all decay,
And Rust o'erspread your Arms.
But Heaven-born Virtue knows no Change,
No Time dissolves her State;
To blessed Eternity she'll range,
'Tis that makes Mortals great.
GREATNESS.
The heavenly Synod once arose
A wondrous strong Debate,
The mighty Secret to disclose,
What makes a Mortal great.
Mars blustered forth, that Love of Arms
Enriched the daring Soul;
And Bacchus swore, the brightest Charms
O'erflowed the sparkling Bowl;
That he who, filled with generous Wine,
Could frolic, laugh, and sing,
Was far more rich, was more divine,
And greater than a King.
Apollo vowed, with Music's Power,
None other could compare;
But Jove produced his golden Shower,
And fixed true Greatness there.
Pallas, to Wisdom ever dear,
Heard gravely what had passed;
The Goddess came prepared to hear,
And Silence broke at last:
Your Shower, she cried, will melt away,
Your Music lose its Charms;
Your sparkling Bowls will all decay,
And Rust o'erspread your Arms.
But Heaven-born Virtue knows no Change,
No Time dissolves her State;
To blessed Eternity she'll range,
'Tis that makes Mortals great.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Greatness
Virtue
Gods Debate
Mars
Bacchus
Apollo
Jove
Pallas
Poem Details
Title
Greatness.
Subject
Debate On What Makes Mortals Great
Key Lines
But Heaven Born Virtue Knows No Change,
No Time Dissolves Her State;
To Blessed Eternity She'll Range,
'Tis That Makes Mortals Great.