Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE NUN: A CANTATA, by EDWARD MOORE (1712-1757) Poet's Biography First Line: Of constance holy legends tell Last Line: The righteous find comfort in death.' Subject(s): Chastity; Clergy; Lust; Nuns; Religion; Sin; Priests; Rabbis; Ministers; Bishops; Theology | ||||||||
RECITATIVE. OF Constance holy legends tell, The softest sister of the cell; None sent to Heav'n so sweet a cry, Or roll'd at mass so bright an eye. No wanton taint her bosom knew, Her hours in heavenly vision flew, Her knees were worn with midnight pray'rs, And thus she breath'd divinest airs: AIR. 'In hallow'd walks and awful cells, Secluded from the light and vain, The chaste-ey'd maid with Virtue dwells, And solitude and silence reign. 'The wanton's voice is heard not here; To Heav'n the sacred pile belongs; Each wall returns the whisper'd pray'r, And echoes but to holy songs.' RECITATIVE. Alas! that pamper'd monks should dare Intrude where sainted Vestals are! Ah, Francis, Francis! well I weet Those holy looks are all deceit. With shame the Muse prolongs her tale, The Priest was young, the Nun was frail; Devotion falter'd on her tongue, Love tun'd her voice, and thus she sung: AIR. 'Alas! how deluded was I To fancy delights as I did, With maidens at midnight to sigh, And love, the sweet passion, forbid! 'O Father! my follies forgive, And still to absolve me be nigh; Your lessons have taught me to live, Come teach me, O teach me! to die.' To her arms in a rapture he sprung, Her bosom, half naked, met his; Transported in silence she hung, And melted away at each kiss. 'Ah Father! (expiring, she cried) With rapture I yield up my breath!' 'Ah Daughter! (he fondly replied) The righteous find comfort in death.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MYSTIC BOUNCE by TERRANCE HAYES MATHEMATICS CONSIDERED AS A VICE by ANTHONY HECHT UNHOLY SONNET 11 by MARK JARMAN SHINE, PERISHING REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE COMING OF THE PLAGUE by WELDON KEES A LITHUANIAN ELEGY by ROBERT KELLY AS PHILLIS THE GAY by EDWARD MOORE (1712-1757) BE STILL, O YE WINDS! by EDWARD MOORE (1712-1757) ELEGY, WRITTEN AMONG THE RUINS OF A NOBLEMAN'S SEAT IN CORNWALL by EDWARD MOORE (1712-1757) |
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