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Poem
November 13, 1772
The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A moral portrait of 'The Rake,' a man of generous mind but enslaved by passion, misapplying virtues, leading others astray, tormented by self-awareness, and dying young in scorn and pity.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE RAKE.
An open heart, a gen'rous mind.
But passion's slave, and wild as wind,
In theory a judge of right,
Tho' banish'd from its practice quite:
So loose, so prostitute a soul,
His nobler wit becomes the tool
Of ev'ry importuning fool!
A thousand virtues misapply'd,
While Reason floats on Passion's tide;
The ruin of the chaste and fair.
The parent's curse, the virgin's snare,
Whose false example leads astray
The young, the thoughtless and the gay:
Yet, left alone to cooler thought.
He knows, he sees, he feels his fault;
Knowing his fault, he feels, he views,
Detesting what he most pursues;
His judgment tells him what he gains
For fleeting joys are lasting pains:
Reason with appetite contending,
Repenting still, and still offending;
Abuser of the gifts of nature.
A wretched self condemning creature
He passes o'er life's ill trod stage,
And dies in youth the prey of age,
The scorn, the pity of the wise.
Who love, lament him and despise.
An open heart, a gen'rous mind.
But passion's slave, and wild as wind,
In theory a judge of right,
Tho' banish'd from its practice quite:
So loose, so prostitute a soul,
His nobler wit becomes the tool
Of ev'ry importuning fool!
A thousand virtues misapply'd,
While Reason floats on Passion's tide;
The ruin of the chaste and fair.
The parent's curse, the virgin's snare,
Whose false example leads astray
The young, the thoughtless and the gay:
Yet, left alone to cooler thought.
He knows, he sees, he feels his fault;
Knowing his fault, he feels, he views,
Detesting what he most pursues;
His judgment tells him what he gains
For fleeting joys are lasting pains:
Reason with appetite contending,
Repenting still, and still offending;
Abuser of the gifts of nature.
A wretched self condemning creature
He passes o'er life's ill trod stage,
And dies in youth the prey of age,
The scorn, the pity of the wise.
Who love, lament him and despise.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Epigram
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Rake
Vice
Passion
Repentance
Moral Ruin
Self Condemnation
Poem Details
Title
The Rake.
Subject
Character Of The Rake
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
An Open Heart, A Gen'rous Mind.
But Passion's Slave, And Wild As Wind,
A Thousand Virtues Misapply'd,
While Reason Floats On Passion's Tide;
Repenting Still, And Still Offending;
And Dies In Youth The Prey Of Age,
The Scorn, The Pity Of The Wise.