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Literary
November 11, 1785
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
In an allegorical tale, Death summons diseases to vie for the role of prime minister. Fever, Palsy, Dropsy, Gout, Asthma, Stone, Plague, and Consumption each claim superiority in destruction. Intemperance enters triumphantly, asserting herself as their parent and chief enabler of human mortality, and is appointed by Death.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
THE COURT OF DEATH.
DEATH, the king of terrors, was determined to chuse a prime minister, and his pale courtiers, the ghastly train of diseases, were all summoned to attend: when each preferred his claim to the honour of this illustrious office. Fever urged the numbers he destroyed; cold Palsy set forth his pretensions by shaking all his limbs; and Dropsy, by his swelled, unwieldy carcase. Gout hobbles up, and alledged his great power in racking every joint; and Asthma's inability to speak, was a strong though a silent argument in favour of his claim. Stone pleaded his violence; Plague his rapid progress in destruction; and Consumption, though slow, insisted that he was sure.
In the midst of this contention, the court was disturbed with the noise of music, dancing, feasting and revelry; when immediately a lady entered, with a bold lascivious air, and a flushed and jovial countenance: she was attended on the one hand by a troop of cooks and bacchanals; and on the other by a train of wanton youths and damsels, who danced half naked to the softest musical instruments: her name was INTEMPERANCE. She waved her hand, and thus addressed the crowd of Diseases.--Give way ye sickly band of pretenders, nor dare to vie with my superior merit in the service of that great Monarch. Am not I your parent? the author of your beings? Do ye not derive your power of shortening human life, almost wholly from me? Who then so fit for this important office? The grisly Monarch grinned a smile of approbation, placed her at his right hand, and she immediately became his prime favourite, and principal minister.
DEATH, the king of terrors, was determined to chuse a prime minister, and his pale courtiers, the ghastly train of diseases, were all summoned to attend: when each preferred his claim to the honour of this illustrious office. Fever urged the numbers he destroyed; cold Palsy set forth his pretensions by shaking all his limbs; and Dropsy, by his swelled, unwieldy carcase. Gout hobbles up, and alledged his great power in racking every joint; and Asthma's inability to speak, was a strong though a silent argument in favour of his claim. Stone pleaded his violence; Plague his rapid progress in destruction; and Consumption, though slow, insisted that he was sure.
In the midst of this contention, the court was disturbed with the noise of music, dancing, feasting and revelry; when immediately a lady entered, with a bold lascivious air, and a flushed and jovial countenance: she was attended on the one hand by a troop of cooks and bacchanals; and on the other by a train of wanton youths and damsels, who danced half naked to the softest musical instruments: her name was INTEMPERANCE. She waved her hand, and thus addressed the crowd of Diseases.--Give way ye sickly band of pretenders, nor dare to vie with my superior merit in the service of that great Monarch. Am not I your parent? the author of your beings? Do ye not derive your power of shortening human life, almost wholly from me? Who then so fit for this important office? The grisly Monarch grinned a smile of approbation, placed her at his right hand, and she immediately became his prime favourite, and principal minister.
What sub-type of article is it?
Fable
Allegory
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Temperance
Moral Virtue
Death Mortality
What keywords are associated?
Court Of Death
Intemperance
Diseases
Allegory
Fable
Temperance
Mortality
Literary Details
Title
The Court Of Death.
Key Lines
Am Not I Your Parent? The Author Of Your Beings? Do Ye Not Derive Your Power Of Shortening Human Life, Almost Wholly From Me? Who Then So Fit For This Important Office?
The Grisly Monarch Grinned A Smile Of Approbation, Placed Her At His Right Hand, And She Immediately Became His Prime Favourite, And Principal Minister.