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Poem
April 20, 1786
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A poem advising the wise on enduring the incurable evil of censure and scandal, which stems from envy of the successful. It argues that detractors' malice cannot harm one's virtue or fortune, and the best response is to ignore them and let them talk.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Parnassian Spring.
ON CENSURE
YE wise, instruct me to endure
An evil which admits no cure;
Or how this evil can be borne,
Which breeds at once both hate and scorn:
Bare Innocence is no support,
When you're try'd in Scandal's court.
Stand high in honor, wealth or wit,
All others who are inferior to it,
Conceive themselves in conscience bound
To join, and drag you to the ground.
Your altitude offends the eyes
Of those who want the power to rise.
The world, a willing stander by,
Inclines to aid a specious lie:
ALAS! They would not do you WRONG,
--But all appearances are strong.
Yet whence proceeds this weight we lay
On what detracting people say?
For, let mankind discharge their tongues
In venom, 'till they burst their lungs,
Their utmost malice cannot make
Your head, or tooth, or finger ache;
Nor spoil your shape, distort your face,
Nor put one feature out of place.
Nor will you find your fortune sunk,
By what they speak, or what they think:
Nor can ten hundred thousand lies
Make you less virtuous, learn'd or wise.
The most effectual way to baulk
Their malice is, TO LET THEM--TALK.
ON CENSURE
YE wise, instruct me to endure
An evil which admits no cure;
Or how this evil can be borne,
Which breeds at once both hate and scorn:
Bare Innocence is no support,
When you're try'd in Scandal's court.
Stand high in honor, wealth or wit,
All others who are inferior to it,
Conceive themselves in conscience bound
To join, and drag you to the ground.
Your altitude offends the eyes
Of those who want the power to rise.
The world, a willing stander by,
Inclines to aid a specious lie:
ALAS! They would not do you WRONG,
--But all appearances are strong.
Yet whence proceeds this weight we lay
On what detracting people say?
For, let mankind discharge their tongues
In venom, 'till they burst their lungs,
Their utmost malice cannot make
Your head, or tooth, or finger ache;
Nor spoil your shape, distort your face,
Nor put one feature out of place.
Nor will you find your fortune sunk,
By what they speak, or what they think:
Nor can ten hundred thousand lies
Make you less virtuous, learn'd or wise.
The most effectual way to baulk
Their malice is, TO LET THEM--TALK.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Censure
Scandal
Malice
Envy
Innocence
Gossip
Virtue
Poem Details
Title
On Censure
Subject
On Enduring Censure
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Bare Innocence Is No Support,
When You're Try'd In Scandal's Court.
The Most Effectual Way To Baulk
Their Malice Is, To Let Them Talk.