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Literary
May 5, 1774
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A reflective poem titled 'SIMPLICITY' contrasts the horrors of global war and chaos with the peaceful joys of home, family, and marital love. The speaker praises the king and queen briefly, then addresses his wife Jenny, expressing gratitude for a simple, content life away from worldly strife.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
POETS CORNER.
SIMPLICITY.
THE King (God bless him!) is an honest Man;
To the Queen's Virtues Envy's self in just;
I'll praise him sometimes, as I sometimes can,
And praise her always, as I always must.
Look, Jenny, what a busy bustling World!
What hideous Scenes of Plunder and Debate!
What Realms and States in dire Confusion hurled,
Impell'd by savage Pride, and more than savage Hate!
Here the stern Russian raves with horrid Speed,
See there the Turks advancing half the Way;
Grim Death applauds the Scene, and takes his Meed
By Thousands and ten Thousands in a Day.
Was it for this, vain Man, that God design'd
His fair Creation with such wondrous Art!
Was it for this he gave th'immortal Mind,
And Stamp'd the heavenly Form and feeling Heart!
Oh! if War's horrid Storm its Rage must pour,
Far may it howl from this our humble Shed;
At Distance may we hear the savage Roar
Of human Tygers, that with Blood are fed!
Tir'd of the Scene, with Pleasure I return,
Dear peaceful Home! to rest my Mind on thee;
For thee, with Gratitude to Heaven I burn,
Which gave me all, for thou art all to me.
Bless'd be that gracious Power who kindly laid,
From the World's Seas, my little Bark ashore;
Gave me Content in still Retirement's Shade,
And bade my heart be happy and be poor.
That gave me thee, my Jenny, thee, my Wife!
Well pleas'd I dwell upon that tender Name,
Which Speaks th' endearing Ties of social Life,
In Titles nobler than the Rolls of Fame.
You smile, my Jenny, at my full fond Heart:
Love forms these Smiles, but Business of the Day
Demands my Care, then kiss me ere we part.
Here, Hannah, take these Breakfast Things away.
SIMPLICITY.
THE King (God bless him!) is an honest Man;
To the Queen's Virtues Envy's self in just;
I'll praise him sometimes, as I sometimes can,
And praise her always, as I always must.
Look, Jenny, what a busy bustling World!
What hideous Scenes of Plunder and Debate!
What Realms and States in dire Confusion hurled,
Impell'd by savage Pride, and more than savage Hate!
Here the stern Russian raves with horrid Speed,
See there the Turks advancing half the Way;
Grim Death applauds the Scene, and takes his Meed
By Thousands and ten Thousands in a Day.
Was it for this, vain Man, that God design'd
His fair Creation with such wondrous Art!
Was it for this he gave th'immortal Mind,
And Stamp'd the heavenly Form and feeling Heart!
Oh! if War's horrid Storm its Rage must pour,
Far may it howl from this our humble Shed;
At Distance may we hear the savage Roar
Of human Tygers, that with Blood are fed!
Tir'd of the Scene, with Pleasure I return,
Dear peaceful Home! to rest my Mind on thee;
For thee, with Gratitude to Heaven I burn,
Which gave me all, for thou art all to me.
Bless'd be that gracious Power who kindly laid,
From the World's Seas, my little Bark ashore;
Gave me Content in still Retirement's Shade,
And bade my heart be happy and be poor.
That gave me thee, my Jenny, thee, my Wife!
Well pleas'd I dwell upon that tender Name,
Which Speaks th' endearing Ties of social Life,
In Titles nobler than the Rolls of Fame.
You smile, my Jenny, at my full fond Heart:
Love forms these Smiles, but Business of the Day
Demands my Care, then kiss me ere we part.
Here, Hannah, take these Breakfast Things away.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
What themes does it cover?
War Peace
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Simplicity
War Horrors
Peaceful Home
Marital Love
Contentment
Russia Turks
Divine Gratitude
Literary Details
Title
Simplicity
Key Lines
The King (God Bless Him!) Is An Honest Man;
To The Queen's Virtues Envy's Self In Just;
I'll Praise Him Sometimes, As I Sometimes Can,
And Praise Her Always, As I Always Must.
Look, Jenny, What A Busy Bustling World!
What Hideous Scenes Of Plunder And Debate!
What Realms And States In Dire Confusion Hurled,
Impell'd By Savage Pride, And More Than Savage Hate!
Oh! If War's Horrid Storm Its Rage Must Pour,
Far May It Howl From This Our Humble Shed;
At Distance May We Hear The Savage Roar
Of Human Tygers, That With Blood Are Fed!
That Gave Me Thee, My Jenny, Thee, My Wife!
Well Pleas'd I Dwell Upon That Tender Name,
Which Speaks Th' Endearing Ties Of Social Life,
In Titles Nobler Than The Rolls Of Fame.
You Smile, My Jenny, At My Full Fond Heart:
Love Forms These Smiles, But Business Of The Day
Demands My Care, Then Kiss Me Ere We Part.