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Poem
May 17, 1811
The Enquirer
Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia
What is this article about?
This poem by Camoëns contrasts the barren life of a miser hoarding gold with the joys of sympathy, liberty, and romantic affection, particularly towards Julia, emphasizing moral fulfillment over material wealth.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
SYMPATHY.—BY CAMOËNS.
Yes, let the miser count his gold,
And toil & scrape to swell the heap,
Say, can the heart that's winter cold
Of wealth the fruitful pleasures reap!
Say, can the soul in self that's wrapt,
The bliss of pure enjoyment taste?
Ah no! when feeling's chain is snapt,
How void the heart and drear the waste!
Was it for this, poor creeping thing!
To pine within a gilded cage,
That nature gave the pow'r to wing
The piercing thought & read her page?
Does she ne'er whisper in thy dream,
"The wretch who loves himself alone,
"Can never drink of rapture's stream,
"Or conscious warm existence own!"
The sweetest joys which health can give
To light pale want's lack-lustre eye,
And aid the toil-worn mind to live;
Are joys which thou canst never buy.
Then count thy hoards of shining gold,
And toil and scrape to swell the heap;
The heart like thine that's winter cold,
No fruits of wealth can ever reap
Oh! give to me sweet nature's right
The balm of life, blest liberty?
And the warm throb of soft delight,
That thrills the soul of sympathy!
Give me, O, Heaven! the power to heal
The wounded soul of sinking woe?
Give me the bosom quick to feel
Affection's purest warmest glow.
Give me to share in Julia's sigh;
And rest my head on Julia's breast,
To chase the tear from Julia's eye!—
Then let the miser take the rest.
Yes, let the miser count his gold,
And toil & scrape to swell the heap,
Say, can the heart that's winter cold
Of wealth the fruitful pleasures reap!
Say, can the soul in self that's wrapt,
The bliss of pure enjoyment taste?
Ah no! when feeling's chain is snapt,
How void the heart and drear the waste!
Was it for this, poor creeping thing!
To pine within a gilded cage,
That nature gave the pow'r to wing
The piercing thought & read her page?
Does she ne'er whisper in thy dream,
"The wretch who loves himself alone,
"Can never drink of rapture's stream,
"Or conscious warm existence own!"
The sweetest joys which health can give
To light pale want's lack-lustre eye,
And aid the toil-worn mind to live;
Are joys which thou canst never buy.
Then count thy hoards of shining gold,
And toil and scrape to swell the heap;
The heart like thine that's winter cold,
No fruits of wealth can ever reap
Oh! give to me sweet nature's right
The balm of life, blest liberty?
And the warm throb of soft delight,
That thrills the soul of sympathy!
Give me, O, Heaven! the power to heal
The wounded soul of sinking woe?
Give me the bosom quick to feel
Affection's purest warmest glow.
Give me to share in Julia's sigh;
And rest my head on Julia's breast,
To chase the tear from Julia's eye!—
Then let the miser take the rest.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Love Courtship
Liberty Independence
What keywords are associated?
Sympathy
Miser
Gold
Liberty
Julia
Avarice
Affection
What entities or persons were involved?
By Camoëns.
Poem Details
Title
Sympathy.
Author
By Camoëns.
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
Yes, Let The Miser Count His Gold,
And Toil & Scrape To Swell The Heap,
Say, Can The Heart That's Winter Cold
Of Wealth The Fruitful Pleasures Reap!
The Wretch Who Loves Himself Alone,
Can Never Drink Of Rapture's Stream,
Or Conscious Warm Existence Own!
Give Me To Share In Julia's Sigh;
And Rest My Head On Julia's Breast,
To Chase The Tear From Julia's Eye!—
Then Let The Miser Take The Rest.