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Literary
October 6, 1774
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Excerpt from James Beattie's 'The Minstrel' in Poets' Corner, a philosophical poem addressing the divine creator, evoking idyllic primeval groves of innocence and equality, reflecting on life's ills requiring patience and experience, and advocating awakening the mind through science to counter ignorance and vice.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
POETS CORNER.
From Dr. BEATIE's MINSTREL
THOU, at whose creative Smile yon Heaven,
In all the Pomp of Beauty, Life, and Light,
Rose from th' Abyss, when dark Confusion, driven
Down, down the bottomless Profound of Night,
Fled, where he ever flies thy piercing Sight!
O glance on these sad Shades one pitying Ray,
To blast the Fury of oppressing Might,
Melt the hard Heart to Love and Mercy's Sway,
And cheer the wandering Soul, and light him on the Way
Sweet were your Shades, O ye primeval Groves,
Whose Boughs to Man his Food and Shelter lent;
Pure in his Pleasures, happy in his Loves,
His Eyes still smiling, and his Heart content.
Then, Hand in Hand, Health, Sport, and Labour went.
Nature supplied the Wish she taught to crave,
None prowled for Prey, none watched to circumvent,
To all an equal Lot Heaven's Bounty gave,
No Vassal feared his Lord, no Tyrant feared his Slave.
And yet, alas! the real Ills of Life
Claim the full Vigour of a Mind prepared,
Prepared for Patience, long, laborious Strife;
Its Guide Experience, and Truth its Guard.
We fare on Earth as other Men have fared:
Were they successful? Let not us despair.
Was Disappointment oft their sole Reward?
Yet shall their Tale instruct, if it declare
How they have borne the Load ourselves are doomed to bear.
Then waken from long Lethargy to Life
The Seeds of Happiness, and Powers of Thought;
Then jarring Appetites forego their Strife,
A Strife by Ignorance to Madness brought
Pleasure, by savage Man, is dearly bought.
With full Revenge? Lust, that defies Controul,
With Gluttony and Death. The Mind untaught
Is a dark Waste, where Fiends and Tempests howl,
As Phoebus to the World is Science to the Soul.
From Dr. BEATIE's MINSTREL
THOU, at whose creative Smile yon Heaven,
In all the Pomp of Beauty, Life, and Light,
Rose from th' Abyss, when dark Confusion, driven
Down, down the bottomless Profound of Night,
Fled, where he ever flies thy piercing Sight!
O glance on these sad Shades one pitying Ray,
To blast the Fury of oppressing Might,
Melt the hard Heart to Love and Mercy's Sway,
And cheer the wandering Soul, and light him on the Way
Sweet were your Shades, O ye primeval Groves,
Whose Boughs to Man his Food and Shelter lent;
Pure in his Pleasures, happy in his Loves,
His Eyes still smiling, and his Heart content.
Then, Hand in Hand, Health, Sport, and Labour went.
Nature supplied the Wish she taught to crave,
None prowled for Prey, none watched to circumvent,
To all an equal Lot Heaven's Bounty gave,
No Vassal feared his Lord, no Tyrant feared his Slave.
And yet, alas! the real Ills of Life
Claim the full Vigour of a Mind prepared,
Prepared for Patience, long, laborious Strife;
Its Guide Experience, and Truth its Guard.
We fare on Earth as other Men have fared:
Were they successful? Let not us despair.
Was Disappointment oft their sole Reward?
Yet shall their Tale instruct, if it declare
How they have borne the Load ourselves are doomed to bear.
Then waken from long Lethargy to Life
The Seeds of Happiness, and Powers of Thought;
Then jarring Appetites forego their Strife,
A Strife by Ignorance to Madness brought
Pleasure, by savage Man, is dearly bought.
With full Revenge? Lust, that defies Controul,
With Gluttony and Death. The Mind untaught
Is a dark Waste, where Fiends and Tempests howl,
As Phoebus to the World is Science to the Soul.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
What themes does it cover?
Nature
Moral Virtue
Political
What keywords are associated?
Minstrel
Creation
Primeval Groves
Ills Of Life
Patience
Science
Soul
Ignorance
Vice
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. Beatie
Literary Details
Title
From Dr. Beatie's Minstrel
Author
Dr. Beatie
Key Lines
Thou, At Whose Creative Smile Yon Heaven, / In All The Pomp Of Beauty, Life, And Light, / Rose From Th' Abyss, When Dark Confusion, Driven / Down, Down The Bottomless Profound Of Night, / Fled, Where He Ever Flies Thy Piercing Sight!
Sweet Were Your Shades, O Ye Primeval Groves, / Whose Boughs To Man His Food And Shelter Lent; / Pure In His Pleasures, Happy In His Loves, / His Eyes Still Smiling, And His Heart Content.
No Vassal Feared His Lord, No Tyrant Feared His Slave.
Prepared For Patience, Long, Laborious Strife; / Its Guide Experience, And Truth Its Guard.
As Phoebus To The World Is Science To The Soul.