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Literary
March 22, 1809
The Rhode Island Republican
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A prose meditation on human mortality, using ruins of ancient cities like Babylon, Athens, and Rome to illustrate the fleeting nature of worldly achievements, incorporating a Shakespearean quote on impermanence, and concluding that only peace of mind and virtue endure.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
ELEGANT EXTRACT
Take a view of the ruins of Antiquity, and remember, O man, the frail state of thy mortality!—Art thou rich and great; is thy name known throughout the world; and do thou lofty buildings aspire to the clouds? yet a little while, and thou shalt sink into dust! Thy edifices and thy monuments too, must at length decay, and leave no traces behind them!
Where now is Babylon? Where is the seat of Solomon? Where is wise Athens? and where ancient Rome, the mistress of the world? Where are those mighty cities, once so famous upon earth? Of some there is not left even a stone upon a stone, and others are remembered only in their ruins
E'en as an insubstantial pageant faded.
The cloud-capt tow'rs, the gorgeous palaces.
The solemn temples, the great globe itself!
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like the baseless fabrick of a vision,
Leave not a wreck behind.
Be assured then O man, who gloriest in thy strength and might, that there is nothing solid but peace of mind, nothing permanent but Virtue; she alone shall last through the ages, and grow brighter through the endless succession of Eternity.
Take a view of the ruins of Antiquity, and remember, O man, the frail state of thy mortality!—Art thou rich and great; is thy name known throughout the world; and do thou lofty buildings aspire to the clouds? yet a little while, and thou shalt sink into dust! Thy edifices and thy monuments too, must at length decay, and leave no traces behind them!
Where now is Babylon? Where is the seat of Solomon? Where is wise Athens? and where ancient Rome, the mistress of the world? Where are those mighty cities, once so famous upon earth? Of some there is not left even a stone upon a stone, and others are remembered only in their ruins
E'en as an insubstantial pageant faded.
The cloud-capt tow'rs, the gorgeous palaces.
The solemn temples, the great globe itself!
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like the baseless fabrick of a vision,
Leave not a wreck behind.
Be assured then O man, who gloriest in thy strength and might, that there is nothing solid but peace of mind, nothing permanent but Virtue; she alone shall last through the ages, and grow brighter through the endless succession of Eternity.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
Soliloquy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Mortality
Ruins
Antiquity
Virtue
Transience
Babylon
Athens
Rome
Literary Details
Title
Elegant Extract
Subject
On The Ruins Of Antiquity And Human Mortality
Key Lines
Take A View Of The Ruins Of Antiquity, And Remember, O Man, The Frail State Of Thy Mortality!
Where Now Is Babylon? Where Is The Seat Of Solomon? Where Is Wise Athens? And Where Ancient Rome, The Mistress Of The World?
E'en As An Insubstantial Pageant Faded.
The Cloud Capt Tow'rs, The Gorgeous Palaces.
The Solemn Temples, The Great Globe Itself!
Yea, All Which It Inherit, Shall Dissolve,
And, Like The Baseless Fabrick Of A Vision,
Leave Not A Wreck Behind.
Be Assured Then O Man, Who Gloriest In Thy Strength And Might, That There Is Nothing Solid But Peace Of Mind, Nothing Permanent But Virtue; She Alone Shall Last Through The Ages, And Grow Brighter Through The Endless Succession Of Eternity.