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Poem
June 16, 1791
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A young lady sends verses to her friend the next morning, retracting her overnight promise to retire together from society. She argues that staying in the world to resist temptations is better than fleeing them, and resolves to live actively, with marriage as a potential penance if needed.
Clipping
OCR Quality
97%
Excellent
Full Text
Parnassian Spring.
A young Lady having over Night promised another to lead a retired Life with her, sent her the following Verses the next Morning.
All compliance apart,
I examin'd my heart
Last night, as I laid me to rest :
And methinks I'm inclin'd
To a change of my mind,
For you know second thoughts are the best.
To retire from the crowd,
For to make ourselves good,
By avoiding ev'ry temptation,
Is in truth to reveal,
What we ought to conceal,
That our passions want some regulation.
It will much abound
To our praise to be found,
In a world so prolifick of evil,
Unpolluted and pure,
Tho' not so demure,
As to wage open war with the devil.
So bidding farewell
To all thoughts of a cell.
I resolve on a militant life :
And if brought to distress,
Why then I'll confess,
And do penance in shape of a wife.
A young Lady having over Night promised another to lead a retired Life with her, sent her the following Verses the next Morning.
All compliance apart,
I examin'd my heart
Last night, as I laid me to rest :
And methinks I'm inclin'd
To a change of my mind,
For you know second thoughts are the best.
To retire from the crowd,
For to make ourselves good,
By avoiding ev'ry temptation,
Is in truth to reveal,
What we ought to conceal,
That our passions want some regulation.
It will much abound
To our praise to be found,
In a world so prolifick of evil,
Unpolluted and pure,
Tho' not so demure,
As to wage open war with the devil.
So bidding farewell
To all thoughts of a cell.
I resolve on a militant life :
And if brought to distress,
Why then I'll confess,
And do penance in shape of a wife.
What sub-type of article is it?
Verse Letter
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Friendship
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Retirement
Friendship
Passions
Temptation
Marriage
Society
Virtue
Poem Details
Title
Parnassian Spring.
Subject
A Young Lady Having Over Night Promised Another To Lead A Retired Life With Her, Sent Her The Following Verses The Next Morning.
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
All Compliance Apart,
I Examin'd My Heart
Last Night, As I Laid Me To Rest :
And Methinks I'm Inclin'd
To A Change Of My Mind,
For You Know Second Thoughts Are The Best.
To Retire From The Crowd,
For To Make Ourselves Good,
By Avoiding Ev'ry Temptation,
Is In Truth To Reveal,
What We Ought To Conceal,
That Our Passions Want Some Regulation.
So Bidding Farewell
To All Thoughts Of A Cell.
I Resolve On A Militant Life :
And If Brought To Distress,
Why Then I'll Confess,
And Do Penance In Shape Of A Wife.