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Poem
September 26, 1803
Jenks' Portland Gazette. And Maine Advertiser
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
The poem uses floral and seasonal metaphors to depict physical beauty as transient, like a short-lived flower, while extolling the enduring 'lustre of the mind' and 'treasures of the heart' that withstand the storms of age and winter.
Clipping
OCR Quality
88%
Good
Full Text
Gratior a pulchro veniens in corpore virtus. Vid.
More lovely Virtue in a lovely form.
What is beauty? 'tis a flow'r.
Transient as the passing shower,
As the dew-drop on the morn,
Glitt'ring on the tender thorn:
'Tis the rainbow of the sky;
Deck'd in tints of fancy dye:
'Tis the glow-worm's fading light,
Quickly stealing from the sight.
See the rose with crimson cheek,
And the lily chaste and meek;
See the blossoms of the year,
They live, they reign, then disappear.
If beauty then's a short liv'd flow'r,
Guard with care each circling hour,
And the lustre of the mind
Wear with youth and charms combin'd.
Stormy Winter, dost thou dare
Violet sweet, or cowslip fair?
Does thy blast its raging pow'r
Shewn to the drooping flow'r?
Age is Winter, and his storm
Full oft doth strike the fairest form;
But treasures of the heart
Withstand his keen alifted dart.
More lovely Virtue in a lovely form.
What is beauty? 'tis a flow'r.
Transient as the passing shower,
As the dew-drop on the morn,
Glitt'ring on the tender thorn:
'Tis the rainbow of the sky;
Deck'd in tints of fancy dye:
'Tis the glow-worm's fading light,
Quickly stealing from the sight.
See the rose with crimson cheek,
And the lily chaste and meek;
See the blossoms of the year,
They live, they reign, then disappear.
If beauty then's a short liv'd flow'r,
Guard with care each circling hour,
And the lustre of the mind
Wear with youth and charms combin'd.
Stormy Winter, dost thou dare
Violet sweet, or cowslip fair?
Does thy blast its raging pow'r
Shewn to the drooping flow'r?
Age is Winter, and his storm
Full oft doth strike the fairest form;
But treasures of the heart
Withstand his keen alifted dart.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Nature Seasons
What keywords are associated?
Beauty
Virtue
Transience
Flowers
Winter
Age
Moral Instruction
Poem Details
Subject
On The Transience Of Beauty And Enduring Virtue
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
What Is Beauty? 'Tis A Flow'r.
Transient As The Passing Shower,
As The Dew Drop On The Morn,
Glitt'ring On The Tender Thorn:
If Beauty Then's A Short Liv'd Flow'r,
Guard With Care Each Circling Hour,
And The Lustre Of The Mind
Wear With Youth And Charms Combin'd.
But Treasures Of The Heart
Withstand His Keen Alifted Dart.