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Poem
March 7, 1760
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A poem advising how to endure public censure and slander, emphasizing that words cannot truly harm one's virtue, fortune, or well-being, and the best response is to ignore the malicious talk.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE CENSURE.
Ye Wise, instruct me to endure
An Evil which admits no Cure ;
Or how this Evil can be borne,
Which breeds, at once both Hate and Scorn.
Bare Innocence is no Support,
When you are try'd in Scandal's Court.
Stand high in Honour, Wealth, or Wit ;
All others who inferior sit.
Conceive themselves in Conscience bound.
To join and drag you to the Ground.
Your Altitude offends the Eyes.
Of those who want the Power to rise :
The World a willing Stander by,
Inclines to aid a specious Lye,
Alas they would not do you Wrong,
But all Appearances are strong.
Yet whence proceeds this Weight we lay,
On what these slandering People say ?
For let Mankind discharge their Tongues
In Venom; 'till they burst their Lungs,
Their utmost Malice cannot make,
Your Head, or Tooth, or Fingers ache ;
Nor spoil your Shape, distort your Face,
Or put one Feature out of Place :
Nor will you find your Fortune sink.
By what they say or what they think.
Nor can ten thousand Thousand Lyes
Make you less Virtuous Learned or Wise.
The most effectual Way to baulk
Their Malice is, To let them talk.
Ye Wise, instruct me to endure
An Evil which admits no Cure ;
Or how this Evil can be borne,
Which breeds, at once both Hate and Scorn.
Bare Innocence is no Support,
When you are try'd in Scandal's Court.
Stand high in Honour, Wealth, or Wit ;
All others who inferior sit.
Conceive themselves in Conscience bound.
To join and drag you to the Ground.
Your Altitude offends the Eyes.
Of those who want the Power to rise :
The World a willing Stander by,
Inclines to aid a specious Lye,
Alas they would not do you Wrong,
But all Appearances are strong.
Yet whence proceeds this Weight we lay,
On what these slandering People say ?
For let Mankind discharge their Tongues
In Venom; 'till they burst their Lungs,
Their utmost Malice cannot make,
Your Head, or Tooth, or Fingers ache ;
Nor spoil your Shape, distort your Face,
Or put one Feature out of Place :
Nor will you find your Fortune sink.
By what they say or what they think.
Nor can ten thousand Thousand Lyes
Make you less Virtuous Learned or Wise.
The most effectual Way to baulk
Their Malice is, To let them talk.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Censure
Slander
Scandal
Malice
Innocence
Virtue
Poem Details
Title
The Censure.
Key Lines
Bare Innocence Is No Support, When You Are Try'd In Scandal's Court.
The Most Effectual Way To Baulk Their Malice Is, To Let Them Talk.
Nor Can Ten Thousand Thousand Lyes Make You Less Virtuous Learned Or Wise.