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Poem
October 6, 1794
Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
A poem addressed to Mrs. Melmoth of the Old American Company, praising her as an actress who embodies the tragic muse, teaches moral lessons through roles like Calista in 'The Fair Penitent,' and guides youth away from vice.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
For the Gazette of the United States.
To Mrs. MELMOTH, of the OLD American COMPANY.
WHEN first the Tragic Muse disclos'd her page,
And with her Eschylus uprear'd the stage,
Wild with fell Grief he bore the reeking sword,
(Her hair dishevell'd, and her bosom gor'd)
To every state, to every clime she flew,
And as she fled th' impassion'd soul she drew;
In daring numbers and exalted thought.
Her moral scene each feeling heart she taught.
And shall not MELMOTH, then, whose bosom glows,
With all that grief the tragic Muse bestows,
Teach the proud heart to feel for others woes?
She shall—each passion hov'ring o'er the scene,
Waits from her word its attitude and mein:
The pitying breast her sorrow strongly shakes,
And ev'ry spark of sympathy awakes.
Her tender griefs, distraction and despair,
With various pangs her pitying bosom tear,
And when such griefs by sympathy are felt,
The eyes will moisten, and the heart will melt.
MELMOTH! the muse invites thee to this land,
O! be obedient then to her command,
From error's ways avert the giddy youth
And lead his footsteps in the paths of truth,
Teach that oft sex, whose nature ne'er should know,
The taint of folly, and the pangs of woe,
To shun those evils which on vice await,
And read the tale in poor Calista's fate;
In scenes like these let not your zeal decay,
For know, what Heav'n inspires, it will repay.
LEANDER.
* Fair Penitent.
To Mrs. MELMOTH, of the OLD American COMPANY.
WHEN first the Tragic Muse disclos'd her page,
And with her Eschylus uprear'd the stage,
Wild with fell Grief he bore the reeking sword,
(Her hair dishevell'd, and her bosom gor'd)
To every state, to every clime she flew,
And as she fled th' impassion'd soul she drew;
In daring numbers and exalted thought.
Her moral scene each feeling heart she taught.
And shall not MELMOTH, then, whose bosom glows,
With all that grief the tragic Muse bestows,
Teach the proud heart to feel for others woes?
She shall—each passion hov'ring o'er the scene,
Waits from her word its attitude and mein:
The pitying breast her sorrow strongly shakes,
And ev'ry spark of sympathy awakes.
Her tender griefs, distraction and despair,
With various pangs her pitying bosom tear,
And when such griefs by sympathy are felt,
The eyes will moisten, and the heart will melt.
MELMOTH! the muse invites thee to this land,
O! be obedient then to her command,
From error's ways avert the giddy youth
And lead his footsteps in the paths of truth,
Teach that oft sex, whose nature ne'er should know,
The taint of folly, and the pangs of woe,
To shun those evils which on vice await,
And read the tale in poor Calista's fate;
In scenes like these let not your zeal decay,
For know, what Heav'n inspires, it will repay.
LEANDER.
* Fair Penitent.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Mrs Melmoth
Tragic Muse
Moral Instruction
Fair Penitent
Old American Company
Calista
Vice And Folly
What entities or persons were involved?
Leander.
Poem Details
Title
To Mrs. Melmoth, Of The Old American Company.
Author
Leander.
Subject
Praise Of Actress Mrs. Melmoth And Her Role In The Fair Penitent
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
When First The Tragic Muse Disclos'd Her Page,
And Shall Not Melmoth, Then, Whose Bosom Glows,
Teach That Oft Sex, Whose Nature Ne'er Should Know,
And Read The Tale In Poor Calista's Fate;
For Know, What Heav'n Inspires, It Will Repay.