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Poem
May 23, 1798
The Kentucky Gazette
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
What is this article about?
A poem extolling the joys of a peaceful rural retirement, free from ambition, envy, and public strife, contrasting it with the corrupt pursuits of power, wealth, and betrayal that torment the ambitious.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
SACRED TO THE MUSES.
PLEASURES OF RETIREMENT
HAPPY the man, whose country seat
Affords a pleasing, calm retreat,
Beneath its shady bowers;
No heavy cares of public life;
No noisy parties' clamorous strife,
Disturb his peaceful hours.
Ambition dwells not in his breast
No sting of envy breaks his rest;
No grief corrodes his mind;
No fierce desires of gold control,
Or sway the dictates of his soul,
To heaven's decrees resigned.
With empty titles let the great,
And all the useless pomp of state,
Perpetuate their name;
Peace and contentment fills his cot,
And healthy temperance crowns his lot,
Though unadorned by fame.
Let others to preferment climb,
By daring some atrocious crime,
And rule the subject state,
Let the base traitor heap up gold;
The price of his dear country sold,
By perfidy made great.
He lives beneath his humble home,
More blest than in the gilded dome,
Where guilt torments the breast,
To him retirement joy affords,
Fair competence supplies his board,
And virtue makes him blest.
PLEASURES OF RETIREMENT
HAPPY the man, whose country seat
Affords a pleasing, calm retreat,
Beneath its shady bowers;
No heavy cares of public life;
No noisy parties' clamorous strife,
Disturb his peaceful hours.
Ambition dwells not in his breast
No sting of envy breaks his rest;
No grief corrodes his mind;
No fierce desires of gold control,
Or sway the dictates of his soul,
To heaven's decrees resigned.
With empty titles let the great,
And all the useless pomp of state,
Perpetuate their name;
Peace and contentment fills his cot,
And healthy temperance crowns his lot,
Though unadorned by fame.
Let others to preferment climb,
By daring some atrocious crime,
And rule the subject state,
Let the base traitor heap up gold;
The price of his dear country sold,
By perfidy made great.
He lives beneath his humble home,
More blest than in the gilded dome,
Where guilt torments the breast,
To him retirement joy affords,
Fair competence supplies his board,
And virtue makes him blest.
What sub-type of article is it?
Pastoral
Ode
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
Temperance Moderation
What keywords are associated?
Retirement
Country Seat
Peaceful Retreat
Ambition Critique
Virtue Contentment
Temperance
Political Corruption
Poem Details
Title
Pleasures Of Retirement
Subject
Pleasures Of Retirement
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Happy The Man, Whose Country Seat
Affords A Pleasing, Calm Retreat,
Beneath Its Shady Bowers;
Peace And Contentment Fills His Cot,
And Healthy Temperance Crowns His Lot,
Though Unadorned By Fame.
Let Others To Preferment Climb,
By Daring Some Atrocious Crime,
And Rule The Subject State,
He Lives Beneath His Humble Home,
More Blest Than In The Gilded Dome,
Where Guilt Torments The Breast,
To Him Retirement Joy Affords,
Fair Competence Supplies His Board,
And Virtue Makes Him Blest.