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Poem
May 18, 1795
Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
A sonnet attributed to Shakespeare contrasts the happy, simple life of a homely swain—tending flocks, praying, and resting peacefully—with the cares and mistrust that banish sleep from a monarch, ultimately leading to a resigned death.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
SONNET.—FROM SHAKSPEARE.
O, God! methinks it were a happy lot
To be no better than a homely swain,
The peaceful tenant of a little cot,
The blithe companion of the village train!
Where cares, mistrust, and treason banish sleep,
See on his glittering couch the monarch laid;
While the poor swain, encircled by his sheep,
Securely slumbers in the hawthorn shade:
To tend his flock is all his worldly care;
To rest and labor alternate hours are given,
Save when religion claims the pause of pray'r,
And meditation wafts the soul to Heaven.
Unruled flows the tenor of his day,
Till Time's white honors o'er his temples wave,
And resignation, willing 'midst decay,
Through Nature's path conduct him to the grave!
O, God! methinks it were a happy lot
To be no better than a homely swain,
The peaceful tenant of a little cot,
The blithe companion of the village train!
Where cares, mistrust, and treason banish sleep,
See on his glittering couch the monarch laid;
While the poor swain, encircled by his sheep,
Securely slumbers in the hawthorn shade:
To tend his flock is all his worldly care;
To rest and labor alternate hours are given,
Save when religion claims the pause of pray'r,
And meditation wafts the soul to Heaven.
Unruled flows the tenor of his day,
Till Time's white honors o'er his temples wave,
And resignation, willing 'midst decay,
Through Nature's path conduct him to the grave!
What sub-type of article is it?
Sonnet
Pastoral
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Religious Faith
Nature Seasons
What keywords are associated?
Shakespeare Sonnet
Homely Swain
Monarch Cares
Pastoral Life
Simple Contentment
Prayer Meditation
Natural Death
What entities or persons were involved?
From Shakespeare
Poem Details
Title
Sonnet.—From Shakspeare.
Author
From Shakespeare
Key Lines
O, God! Methinks It Were A Happy Lot
To Be No Better Than A Homely Swain,
Where Cares, Mistrust, And Treason Banish Sleep,
See On His Glittering Couch The Monarch Laid;
Save When Religion Claims The Pause Of Pray'r,
And Meditation Wafts The Soul To Heaven.
And Resignation, Willing 'Midst Decay,
Through Nature's Path Conduct Him To The Grave!