Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO DR. PRIESTLEY. DEC. 29, 1792, by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Stirs not thy spirit. Priestley, as the train Last Line: Shall meet the thanks of a regenerate land. Alternate Author Name(s): Aikin, Anna Letitia Subject(s): Priestley, Joseph (1733-1804); Priestley, Joseph (1733-1804) | ||||||||
Stirs not thy spirit, Priestley, as the train With low obeisance, and with servile phrase, File behind file, advance, with supple knee, And lay their necks beneath the foot of power? Burns not thy cheek indignant, when thy name, On which delighted science lov'd to dwell, Becomes the bandied theme of hooting crowds? With timid caution, or with cool reserve, When e'en each reverend Brother keeps aloof, Eyes the struck deer, and leaves thy naked side A mark for power to shoot at? Let it be. "On evil days though fallen and evil tongues," To thee, the slander of a passing age Imports not. Scenes like these hold little space In his large mind, whose ample stretch of thought Grasps future periods. -- Well can'st thou afford To give large credit for that debt of fame Thy country owes thee. Calm thou can'st consign it To the slow payment of that distant day, If distant, when thy name, to freedom's join'd, Shall meet the thanks of a regenerate land. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN INVENTORY OF THE FURNITURE IN DR. PRIESTLEY'S STUDY by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD AN INVENTORY OF THE FURNITURE IN DR. PRIESTLEY'S STUDY by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD SONNETS ON EMINENT CHARACTERS: 3. PRIESTLEY by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE ODE TO SPRING by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD TOMORROW by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD WASHING-DAY by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD A SUMMER EVENING'S MEDITATION by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD HYMN: 2 by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LIFE [AND DEATH] by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD ODE TO SPRING by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD ON THE EXPECTED GENERAL RISING OF THE FRENCH NATION IN 1792 by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |
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