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Poem
August 10, 1826
The Wilmingtonian, And Delaware Advertiser
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
What is this article about?
A sonnet contemplating the illusory joys of life, symbolized by bells that chime fortunes and hopes before turning to notes of woe, severed hearts, blighted destinies, graves, and death, portraying human life as chained between hope and misery.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
SONNET.—LIFE.
Delusive chime! deceitful harmony.
Oh! ye speak gladly now of fortunes won,
Of hopes accomplished, consummated love,
And all that gives to hearts a victory!
Anon—and here his day-course shall be run,
And gladdening other skies departs the sun—
Woe shall sit queen your altered voice above.
Then shall ye tell, in dull and dismal note,
Of sever'd hearts, and blighted destinies,
Of graves and epitaphs, and crimes and death!
Delusive bells! ye do but truly note,
That weal or woe which hangs upon your breath—
Man's life, which, chain'd by both, in error flies,
To-day is Hope's, to-morrow Misery's.
Delusive chime! deceitful harmony.
Oh! ye speak gladly now of fortunes won,
Of hopes accomplished, consummated love,
And all that gives to hearts a victory!
Anon—and here his day-course shall be run,
And gladdening other skies departs the sun—
Woe shall sit queen your altered voice above.
Then shall ye tell, in dull and dismal note,
Of sever'd hearts, and blighted destinies,
Of graves and epitaphs, and crimes and death!
Delusive bells! ye do but truly note,
That weal or woe which hangs upon your breath—
Man's life, which, chain'd by both, in error flies,
To-day is Hope's, to-morrow Misery's.
What sub-type of article is it?
Sonnet
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Sonnet Life
Delusive Harmony
Hope Misery
Blighted Destinies
Graves Death
Poem Details
Title
Sonnet.—Life.
Subject
Life
Key Lines
Delusive Chime! Deceitful Harmony.
Delusive Bells! Ye Do But Truly Note,
That Weal Or Woe Which Hangs Upon Your Breath—
Man's Life, Which, Chain'd By Both, In Error Flies,
To Day Is Hope's, To Morrow Misery's.