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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE LYING LOVER: EPILOGUE, by RICHARD STEELE Poet's Biography First Line: Our too advent'rous author soared to-night Last Line: That only on the stage you see distress. | |||
OUR too advent'rous author soared to-night Above the little praise, mirth to excite, And chose with pity to chastise delight. For laughter's a distorted passion, born Of sudden self-esteem and sudden scorn; Which, when 'tis o'er, the men in pleasure wise, Both him that moved it and themselves despise; While generous pity of a painted woe Makes us ourselves both more approve and know. What is that touch within which nature gave For man to man e'er fortune made a slave? Sure it descends from that dread Power alone, Who levels thunder from His awful throne, And shakes both worlds—yet hears the wretched groan. 'Tis what the ancient sage could ne'er define, Wondered—and called part human, part divine; 'Tis that pure joy which guardian angels know, When timely they assist their care below, When they the good protect, the ill oppose; 'Tis what our sovereign feels when she bestows, Which gives her glorious cause such high success, That only on the stage you see distress. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FUNERAL: PROLOGUE by RICHARD STEELE THE LYING LOVER: PROLOGUE by RICHARD STEELE THE TENDER HUSBAND: A SONG DESIGNED FOR THE FOURTH ACT, BUT NOT SET by RICHARD STEELE THE TENDER HUSBAND: EPILOGUE by RICHARD STEELE THE TENDER HUSBAND: SONG by RICHARD STEELE TO MR. CONGREVE, OCCASIONED BY HIS COMEDY 'THE WAY OF THE WORLD' by RICHARD STEELE POE'S COTTAGE AT FORDHAM by JOHN HENRY BONER WE WEAR THE MASK by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE LAST GOODBYE by LOUISE CHANDLER MOULTON EROTION by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE |
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