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Poem
July 6, 1826
The Wilmingtonian, And Delaware Advertiser
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
What is this article about?
The poem meditates on the transience of physical beauty and youth, using flower and snow metaphors, and extols the enduring power of virtue and religion over time and death.
Clipping
OCR Quality
96%
Excellent
Full Text
POETRY.
THE FRAILTY OF BEAUTY.
(From the remains of the Rev. C. Wolfe.)
I must tune up my harp's broken string,
For the fair has commanded the strain;
Yet such a theme will I sing,
That I think she'll not ask me again:
Or I tell her Youth's blossom is blown,
And that beauty the flower must fade;
And sure, if a lady can frown,
She'll frown at the words I have said.
The smiles of the rose-bud how fleet!
They come--and as quickly they fly:
The violet how modest and sweet!
Yet the Spring sees it open and die.
How snow-white the lily appears!
Yet the life of a lily's a day:
And the snow that it equals, in tears
To-morrow must vanish away.
Oh, Beauty! of all things on earth
How many thy charms most desire!
Yet Beauty and Youth has its birth,-
And Beauty with Youth must expire
Oh, fair ones! so sad is the tale,
That my song in my sorrow I steep;
And where I intended to rail,
I must lay down my harp, and must weep.
But Virtue indignantly seized
The harp as it fell from my hand;
Serene was her look, though displeased,
As she utter'd her awful command.
"Thy tears and thy pity employ
For the thoughtless, the giddy, the vain,-
But those who my blessings enjoy,
Thy tears and thy pity disdain.
For Beauty alone ne'er bestow'd
Such a charm as Religion has lent;
And the cheek of a belle never glow'd
With the smile like the smile of content.
Time's hand, and the pestilence rage,
No hue, no complexion can brave;
For beauty must yield to old-age,
But I will not yield to the grave."
THE FRAILTY OF BEAUTY.
(From the remains of the Rev. C. Wolfe.)
I must tune up my harp's broken string,
For the fair has commanded the strain;
Yet such a theme will I sing,
That I think she'll not ask me again:
Or I tell her Youth's blossom is blown,
And that beauty the flower must fade;
And sure, if a lady can frown,
She'll frown at the words I have said.
The smiles of the rose-bud how fleet!
They come--and as quickly they fly:
The violet how modest and sweet!
Yet the Spring sees it open and die.
How snow-white the lily appears!
Yet the life of a lily's a day:
And the snow that it equals, in tears
To-morrow must vanish away.
Oh, Beauty! of all things on earth
How many thy charms most desire!
Yet Beauty and Youth has its birth,-
And Beauty with Youth must expire
Oh, fair ones! so sad is the tale,
That my song in my sorrow I steep;
And where I intended to rail,
I must lay down my harp, and must weep.
But Virtue indignantly seized
The harp as it fell from my hand;
Serene was her look, though displeased,
As she utter'd her awful command.
"Thy tears and thy pity employ
For the thoughtless, the giddy, the vain,-
But those who my blessings enjoy,
Thy tears and thy pity disdain.
For Beauty alone ne'er bestow'd
Such a charm as Religion has lent;
And the cheek of a belle never glow'd
With the smile like the smile of content.
Time's hand, and the pestilence rage,
No hue, no complexion can brave;
For beauty must yield to old-age,
But I will not yield to the grave."
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Death Mourning
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Beauty
Frailty
Youth
Virtue
Religion
Transience
Morality
What entities or persons were involved?
From The Remains Of The Rev. C. Wolfe.
Poem Details
Title
The Frailty Of Beauty.
Author
From The Remains Of The Rev. C. Wolfe.
Subject
Frailty Of Beauty
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
Oh, Beauty! Of All Things On Earth
How Many Thy Charms Most Desire!
Yet Beauty And Youth Has Its Birth,
And Beauty With Youth Must Expire
"For Beauty Alone Ne'er Bestow'd
Such A Charm As Religion Has Lent;
And The Cheek Of A Belle Never Glow'd
With The Smile Like The Smile Of Content."
Time's Hand, And The Pestilence Rage,
No Hue, No Complexion Can Brave;
For Beauty Must Yield To Old Age,
But I Will Not Yield To The Grave.