Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
May 22, 1812
The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
An early ode by Dr. Johnson extolling friendship as a heavenly boon for noble minds and angels, contrasting it with love's destructive passions, and portraying it as a moral guide through life into the afterlife.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
On The following beautiful Ode to Friendship, was one of the earliest compositions of Dr. Johnson.
Friendship, peculiar boon of heav'n,
The noble mind's delight and pride,
To men and angels only giv'n.
To all the lower world deny'd.
While love unknown among the blest
Parent of thousand wild desires—
The savage and the human breast
Torments alike with raging fires.
With bright, but oft destructive gleam
Alike o'er all his lightnings flys
The lambent glories only beam
Around the fav'rites of the sky.
The gentle flower of guiltless joy
On fools and villains ne'er descend:
In vain for thee the tyrant sighs,
And hugs a flatterer for a friend.
Directress of the brave and just,
O guide us thro' life's darksome way!
And let the tortures of mistrust
On selfish bosoms only prey.
Nor shall thine ardours cease to glow,
When souls to blissful climes remove
What rais'd our virtue here below
Shall aid our happiness above.
Friendship, peculiar boon of heav'n,
The noble mind's delight and pride,
To men and angels only giv'n.
To all the lower world deny'd.
While love unknown among the blest
Parent of thousand wild desires—
The savage and the human breast
Torments alike with raging fires.
With bright, but oft destructive gleam
Alike o'er all his lightnings flys
The lambent glories only beam
Around the fav'rites of the sky.
The gentle flower of guiltless joy
On fools and villains ne'er descend:
In vain for thee the tyrant sighs,
And hugs a flatterer for a friend.
Directress of the brave and just,
O guide us thro' life's darksome way!
And let the tortures of mistrust
On selfish bosoms only prey.
Nor shall thine ardours cease to glow,
When souls to blissful climes remove
What rais'd our virtue here below
Shall aid our happiness above.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Friendship
Moral Virtue
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Friendship Ode
Dr Johnson
Noble Minds
Divine Gift
Virtue Guide
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. Johnson
Poem Details
Title
Ode To Friendship
Author
Dr. Johnson
Key Lines
Friendship, Peculiar Boon Of Heav'n,
The Noble Mind's Delight And Pride,
To Men And Angels Only Giv'n.
Directress Of The Brave And Just,
O Guide Us Thro' Life's Darksome Way!