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Literary
July 27, 1819
The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Editorial exchange between Baltimore Morning Chronicle and Rhode-Island American disputing the originality of a published poetic paraphrase of a 1819 piece, composed by a deceased friend and sent by the late Colonel George R. Burrill. The poem depicts a speaker questioning Time, Fame, and Oblivion about a destroyed building, symbolizing transience and forgetfulness.
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Original Miscellany.
FROM THE BALTIMORE MORNING CHRONICLE.
The Editor of the Rhode-Island American
notices a poetical effusion that we published
as original, which word was printed in italics.
It is proper here to remark, that this poetry
was original-for it was composed by a dear
friend, now dead, and at the request of the
Editor. It was published from a letter addressed
to the Editor, by the late Colonel
George R. Burrill, so that it was in the strictest
sense original.
[The above explanation has no bearing on
the validity of our assertion. We repeat,
that the piece was a paraphrase, well executed,
it is true, but having no more claim
to the proper character of original poetry, than
Dr. Watts has to wear the honours of the
sweet singer of Israel. To prove our assertion,
we republish from the American, of
January 23, 1819, the original production;
and to remove all doubt with regard to the
originality of the paraphrase in the Chronicle,
we add, that this also may be found verbatim
in the American of February 16, 1819. We
had no disposition to be captious, for without
indicating the paper from which we extracted
it, we merely stated that it was a paraphrase,
and the best which had appeared:
American.]
I inquired of Time, to whom, said I, was
erected this building, which you have levelled
with the ground? Time made no answer; but
spread his quick wings and hastened his flight.
I then spoke to Fame-O thou, the parent of
all that survives! Thou who-she cast her
troubled and sorrow-swelled eyes upon the
ground, in the attitude of one whose heart is
too full to utter words. Wondering and confused
at what I had seen, I was turning aside
from the monument, when I saw Oblivion
stepping from stone to stone. Tho, exclaimed
I, thou must be acquainted with it. Ah,
show me!-be interrupted me with a voice,
like deep thunder at a distance-I care not
what it has been-it is now mine.
FROM THE BALTIMORE MORNING CHRONICLE.
The Editor of the Rhode-Island American
notices a poetical effusion that we published
as original, which word was printed in italics.
It is proper here to remark, that this poetry
was original-for it was composed by a dear
friend, now dead, and at the request of the
Editor. It was published from a letter addressed
to the Editor, by the late Colonel
George R. Burrill, so that it was in the strictest
sense original.
[The above explanation has no bearing on
the validity of our assertion. We repeat,
that the piece was a paraphrase, well executed,
it is true, but having no more claim
to the proper character of original poetry, than
Dr. Watts has to wear the honours of the
sweet singer of Israel. To prove our assertion,
we republish from the American, of
January 23, 1819, the original production;
and to remove all doubt with regard to the
originality of the paraphrase in the Chronicle,
we add, that this also may be found verbatim
in the American of February 16, 1819. We
had no disposition to be captious, for without
indicating the paper from which we extracted
it, we merely stated that it was a paraphrase,
and the best which had appeared:
American.]
I inquired of Time, to whom, said I, was
erected this building, which you have levelled
with the ground? Time made no answer; but
spread his quick wings and hastened his flight.
I then spoke to Fame-O thou, the parent of
all that survives! Thou who-she cast her
troubled and sorrow-swelled eyes upon the
ground, in the attitude of one whose heart is
too full to utter words. Wondering and confused
at what I had seen, I was turning aside
from the monument, when I saw Oblivion
stepping from stone to stone. Tho, exclaimed
I, thou must be acquainted with it. Ah,
show me!-be interrupted me with a voice,
like deep thunder at a distance-I care not
what it has been-it is now mine.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Soliloquy
Allegory
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
What keywords are associated?
Time
Fame
Oblivion
Ruins
Transience
Poetic Paraphrase
What entities or persons were involved?
Colonel George R. Burrill
Literary Details
Author
Colonel George R. Burrill
Subject
Inquiry To Time, Fame, And Oblivion About A Ruined Building
Form / Style
Poetic Paraphrase Addressing Personified Abstractions
Key Lines
I Inquired Of Time, To Whom, Said I, Was Erected This Building, Which You Have Levelled With The Ground? Time Made No Answer; But Spread His Quick Wings And Hastened His Flight.
I Then Spoke To Fame O Thou, The Parent Of All That Survives! Thou Who She Cast Her Troubled And Sorrow Swelled Eyes Upon The Ground, In The Attitude Of One Whose Heart Is Too Full To Utter Words.
Wondering And Confused At What I Had Seen, I Was Turning Aside From The Monument, When I Saw Oblivion Stepping From Stone To Stone. Tho, Exclaimed I, Thou Must Be Acquainted With It. Ah, Show Me! Be Interrupted Me With A Voice, Like Deep Thunder At A Distance I Care Not What It Has Been It Is Now Mine.