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Poem
August 23, 1771
The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
This poem personifies eternal Truth as bold, open, and divine, contrasting it with foul Error, which is deceitful, evasive, and hides in shadows and disguises, ultimately perishing when exposed.
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Full Text
Truth and Error.
How bold and open, is eternal Truth?
Blooming and fair, in everlasting Youth.
How free and easy her majestic Gait?
Like some bright Goddess clad in heavenly State
Divinely calm She spreads her Charms abroad;
Free from the Stains of Artifice and Fraud,
Nobly she walks amid the Blaze of Day,
Nor fears the Critic's Eye, nor keen Survey
But bids the deep-read Sage ply all his Art
Canvas her Nature, and look thro' her Heart.
Not thus, foul sneaking Error; She evades
The piercing Eye, and lurks beneath the Shades
She deals in Sophistry, Deceit and Lies. ;
Loves the dark Corner, and obscure Disguise
She starts from Truth, and Shud'ring at her Rays.
Seeks the blind Covert of some winding Maze
With bare bold Front he trembles to assail.
But basely hides beneath a fine-spun Vail.
Pinch her, Proteus-like, she wreaths and squirms
Changes her Shape, and wears a thousand Forms,
If you detect her, smitten by your Eyes,
As by a Basilisk, she droops and dies.
How bold and open, is eternal Truth?
Blooming and fair, in everlasting Youth.
How free and easy her majestic Gait?
Like some bright Goddess clad in heavenly State
Divinely calm She spreads her Charms abroad;
Free from the Stains of Artifice and Fraud,
Nobly she walks amid the Blaze of Day,
Nor fears the Critic's Eye, nor keen Survey
But bids the deep-read Sage ply all his Art
Canvas her Nature, and look thro' her Heart.
Not thus, foul sneaking Error; She evades
The piercing Eye, and lurks beneath the Shades
She deals in Sophistry, Deceit and Lies. ;
Loves the dark Corner, and obscure Disguise
She starts from Truth, and Shud'ring at her Rays.
Seeks the blind Covert of some winding Maze
With bare bold Front he trembles to assail.
But basely hides beneath a fine-spun Vail.
Pinch her, Proteus-like, she wreaths and squirms
Changes her Shape, and wears a thousand Forms,
If you detect her, smitten by your Eyes,
As by a Basilisk, she droops and dies.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Truth
Error
Deceit
Personification
Moral Contrast
Sophistry
Poem Details
Title
Truth And Error.
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
How Bold And Open, Is Eternal Truth?
Blooming And Fair, In Everlasting Youth.
Not Thus, Foul Sneaking Error; She Evades
The Piercing Eye, And Lurks Beneath The Shades
Pinch Her, Proteus Like, She Wreaths And Squirms
Changes Her Shape, And Wears A Thousand Forms,