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Poem
January 7, 1795
Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
A satirical poem deriding the effort to immortalize insignificant names in the Biographia Britannica, likening their brief fame to sparks from a child burning old newspapers that quickly fade into oblivion.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
On observing some Names of little Note recorded in the Biographia Britannica.
O Fond attempt to give a deathless lot,
To names ignoble, born to be forgot!
In vain recorded in historic page,
They court the notice of a future age:
Those twinkling tiny lustres of the land
Drop one by one from fame's neglecting hand!
Lethean gulphs receive them as they fall,
And dark oblivion soon absorbs them all
So when a child, as playful children use,
Has burnt to tinder a stale last year's news,
The flame extinct, he views the roving fire,
There goes my lady, and there goes the squire;
There goes the parson O illustrious spark!
And there, scarce less illustrious, goes the clerk.
O Fond attempt to give a deathless lot,
To names ignoble, born to be forgot!
In vain recorded in historic page,
They court the notice of a future age:
Those twinkling tiny lustres of the land
Drop one by one from fame's neglecting hand!
Lethean gulphs receive them as they fall,
And dark oblivion soon absorbs them all
So when a child, as playful children use,
Has burnt to tinder a stale last year's news,
The flame extinct, he views the roving fire,
There goes my lady, and there goes the squire;
There goes the parson O illustrious spark!
And there, scarce less illustrious, goes the clerk.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Epigram
What themes does it cover?
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Biographia Britannica
Fame
Obscurity
Satire
Minor Names
Oblivion
Newspaper Sparks
Poem Details
Title
On Observing Some Names Of Little Note Recorded In The Biographia Britannica.
Subject
On Minor Figures In Biographia Britannica
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
O Fond Attempt To Give A Deathless Lot,
To Names Ignoble, Born To Be Forgot!
Those Twinkling Tiny Lustres Of The Land
Drop One By One From Fame's Neglecting Hand!
So When A Child, As Playful Children Use,
Has Burnt To Tinder A Stale Last Year's News,
There Goes My Lady, And There Goes The Squire;
There Goes The Parson O Illustrious Spark!
And There, Scarce Less Illustrious, Goes The Clerk.