Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
October 19, 1786
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A mythological debate among gods—M ars for war, Bacchus for wine, Apollo for music, Jove for power—concludes with Pallas declaring that unchanging virtue makes mortals truly great.
Clipping
OCR Quality
97%
Excellent
Full Text
Parnassian Spring.
TRUE GREATNESS.
To heav'nly synod once arose
A wond'rous strong debate,
This mighty secret to disclose-
What makes a mortal great.
Mars bluster'd forth that love of arms
Enrich'd the daring soul;
And Bacchus swore, (he brightest charms
O'erflow'd the sparkling bowl;)
That he, who fill'd with gen'rous wine,
Could frolick, laugh and sing,
Was far more rich, was more divine,
And greater than a King.
Apollo vow'd with musick's pow'r
None other could compare;
But Jove produc'd his golden bow
And fix'd true greatness there.
Pallas, to wisdom ever dear,
Heard gravely what had past;
The goddess came prepar'd to hear,
And silence broke at last.
Your show'r she cry'd, will melt away
Your musick lose its charms;
Your sparkling bowls will all decay,
And rust o'erspread your arms.
But heav'n-born virtue knows no change
No time dissolves her state;
To bless'd eternity she'll range:
'Tis she makes mortals great.
TRUE GREATNESS.
To heav'nly synod once arose
A wond'rous strong debate,
This mighty secret to disclose-
What makes a mortal great.
Mars bluster'd forth that love of arms
Enrich'd the daring soul;
And Bacchus swore, (he brightest charms
O'erflow'd the sparkling bowl;)
That he, who fill'd with gen'rous wine,
Could frolick, laugh and sing,
Was far more rich, was more divine,
And greater than a King.
Apollo vow'd with musick's pow'r
None other could compare;
But Jove produc'd his golden bow
And fix'd true greatness there.
Pallas, to wisdom ever dear,
Heard gravely what had past;
The goddess came prepar'd to hear,
And silence broke at last.
Your show'r she cry'd, will melt away
Your musick lose its charms;
Your sparkling bowls will all decay,
And rust o'erspread your arms.
But heav'n-born virtue knows no change
No time dissolves her state;
To bless'd eternity she'll range:
'Tis she makes mortals great.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
True Greatness
Virtue
Gods Debate
Mars
Bacchus
Pallas
Moral Virtue
Poem Details
Title
True Greatness.
Subject
Debate On What Makes A Mortal Great
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
But Heav'n Born Virtue Knows No Change
No Time Dissolves Her State;
To Bless'd Eternity She'll Range:
'Tis She Makes Mortals Great.