Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ODE ON READING RICHARDSON'S HISTORY OF SIR CHARLES GRANDISON, by WILLIAM COWPER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Say, ye apostate and profane Last Line: The hero, and the saint! Subject(s): Richardson, Samuel (1689-1761) | ||||||||
SAY, ye apostate and profane, Wretches who blush not to disdain Allegiance to your God, Did e'er your idly-wasted love Of virtue for her sake remove And lift you from the crowd? Would you the race of glory run? Know, the devout, and they alone, Are equal to the task: The labours of the illustrious course Far other than the unaided force Of human vigour ask, To arm against repeated ill The patient heart, too brave to feel The tortures of despair; Nor safer yet high-crested Pride, When wealth flows in with every tide To gain admittance there. To rescue from the tyrant's sword The oppressed;--unseen and unimplored, To cheer the face of woe; From lawless insult to defend An orphan's right, a fallen friend, And a forgiven foe;-- These, these distinguish from the crowd, And these alone, the great and good, The guardians of mankind; Whose bosoms with these virtues heave, Oh, with what matchless speed they leave The multitude behind! Then ask ye, from what cause on earth Virtues like these derive their birth? Derived from Heaven alone, Full on that favoured breast they shine, Where Faith and Resignation join To call the blessing down. Such is that heart;--but while the Muse Thy theme, O Richardson, pursues, Her feebler spirits faint; She cannot reach, and would not wrong, That subject for an angel's song, The hero, and the saint! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A COMPARISON by WILLIAM COWPER A COMPARISON [ADDRESSED] TO A YOUNG LADY by WILLIAM COWPER BOADICEA; AN ODE by WILLIAM COWPER EPITAPH ON A HARE by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 1. WALKING WITH GOD by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 18. LOVEST THOU ME? by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 35. LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 49. JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 9. THE CONTRITE HEART by WILLIAM COWPER ON THE DEATH OF MRS. (NOW LADY) THROCKMORTON'S BULLFINCH by WILLIAM COWPER |
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