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Poem
October 17, 1771
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A virtuous captain from Megara, despoiled by a tyrant, rejects the return of his goods, affirming that wisdom and virtue are his true possessions, which shames the ruler into praising virtue's triumph over power and conquest.
Clipping
OCR Quality
85%
Good
Full Text
VIRTUE ITS OWN REWARD
Captain, of black Cast, who sin
Stoutly refus'd to fear the worst;
Who knew no Ill could e'er betide,
Where conscious Virtue's all in all;
Where PLATO's Son,
So oft a King, stood alone,
Like a tempestuous Whirlwind came,
And set Megara in a Flame;
Stripp'd of his All, Half naked went
To seek the haughty Victor's Tent;
The Tyrant smil'd, but mov'd to see
Merit expos'd to Misery,
Order'd the Captains of his Host
To give him back the Goods he'd lost.
Still tho' the useless Boon deny'd:
Forbear, mistaken Prince, he cry'd:
"I've Nothing that I value lost,
"Wisdom and Virtue still I boast
"Triumphant in my Soul; the rest,
"Meer Joys of Life, are but a Jest."
Th'astonish'd Monarch blush'd with Shame,
Conscious of still Poorer Fame:
"This Man, he cry'd, has conquer'd more,
"By Virtue, than my Arms by Power.
"Cities may burn, and Empires fall,
"But Virtue triumphs over all."
Captain, of black Cast, who sin
Stoutly refus'd to fear the worst;
Who knew no Ill could e'er betide,
Where conscious Virtue's all in all;
Where PLATO's Son,
So oft a King, stood alone,
Like a tempestuous Whirlwind came,
And set Megara in a Flame;
Stripp'd of his All, Half naked went
To seek the haughty Victor's Tent;
The Tyrant smil'd, but mov'd to see
Merit expos'd to Misery,
Order'd the Captains of his Host
To give him back the Goods he'd lost.
Still tho' the useless Boon deny'd:
Forbear, mistaken Prince, he cry'd:
"I've Nothing that I value lost,
"Wisdom and Virtue still I boast
"Triumphant in my Soul; the rest,
"Meer Joys of Life, are but a Jest."
Th'astonish'd Monarch blush'd with Shame,
Conscious of still Poorer Fame:
"This Man, he cry'd, has conquer'd more,
"By Virtue, than my Arms by Power.
"Cities may burn, and Empires fall,
"But Virtue triumphs over all."
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Virtue Reward
Captain Megara
Tyrant Shame
Wisdom Boast
Moral Triumph
Poem Details
Title
Virtue Its Own Reward
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
"I've Nothing That I Value Lost,
"Wisdom And Virtue Still I Boast
"Triumphant In My Soul; The Rest,
"Meer Joys Of Life, Are But A Jest."
"Cities May Burn, And Empires Fall,
"But Virtue Triumphs Over All."