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Poem
September 13, 1867
The Fremont Weekly Journal
Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio
What is this article about?
A didactic poem titled 'THEY SAY' warns against gossip and rumor-spreading, emphasizing moral virtue by questioning the truth and harm of tales, urging silence or positive speech, and calling for self-reflection on sin with biblical allusion.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
THEY SAY.
They say - Ah! well suppose they do,
But can they prove the story true?
Suspicion may arise from nought But malice, envy, want of thought,
Why count yourself among the "they" Who whisper what they dare not say.
They say - but why the tale rehearse,
And help to make the matter worse?
No good can possibly accrue From telling what may be untrue:
And is it not a nobler plan To speak of all the best you can?
They say - Well, if it should be so,
Why need you tell the tale of woe?
Will it the bitter wrong redress,
Or make one pang of sorrow less?
Will it the erring one restore,
Henceforth to "go and sin no more?"
They say - Oh! pause and look within - See how thine heart inclines to sin;
Watch, lest in dark temptation's hour,
Thou, too, shouldst sink beneath its power,
Pity the frail, weep o'er the fall,
But speak of good or not at all.
They say - Ah! well suppose they do,
But can they prove the story true?
Suspicion may arise from nought But malice, envy, want of thought,
Why count yourself among the "they" Who whisper what they dare not say.
They say - but why the tale rehearse,
And help to make the matter worse?
No good can possibly accrue From telling what may be untrue:
And is it not a nobler plan To speak of all the best you can?
They say - Well, if it should be so,
Why need you tell the tale of woe?
Will it the bitter wrong redress,
Or make one pang of sorrow less?
Will it the erring one restore,
Henceforth to "go and sin no more?"
They say - Oh! pause and look within - See how thine heart inclines to sin;
Watch, lest in dark temptation's hour,
Thou, too, shouldst sink beneath its power,
Pity the frail, weep o'er the fall,
But speak of good or not at all.
What sub-type of article is it?
Epigram
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Gossip
Rumor
Moral Advice
Sin
Temptation
Pity
Poem Details
Title
They Say.
Subject
Against Gossip And Rumor
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
They Say Ah! Well Suppose They Do,
Why Count Yourself Among The "They" Who Whisper What They Dare Not Say.
And Is It Not A Nobler Plan To Speak Of All The Best You Can?
Will It The Erring One Restore, Henceforth To "Go And Sin No More?"
Pity The Frail, Weep O'er The Fall, But Speak Of Good Or Not At All.