From the Minstrel
Ah! who can tell how hard it is to climb
The steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar!
Ah! who can tell how many a soul sublime
Hath felt the influence of malignant star,
And waged with Fortune an eternal war!
Check'd by the scoff of Pride, by Envy's frown,
And Poverty's unconquerable bar,
In life's low vale remote hath pined alone,
Then drops into the grave, unpitied and unknown!
For further reading of the Minstrel visit http://spenserians.cath.vt.edu/TextRecord.php?action=GET&textsid=34808
Ah! who can tell how hard it is to climb
The steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar!
Ah! who can tell how many a soul sublime
Hath felt the influence of malignant star,
And waged with Fortune an eternal war!
Check'd by the scoff of Pride, by Envy's frown,
And Poverty's unconquerable bar,
In life's low vale remote hath pined alone,
Then drops into the grave, unpitied and unknown!
For further reading of the Minstrel visit http://spenserians.cath.vt.edu/TextRecord.php?action=GET&textsid=34808
The Triumph of Melancholy
Memory, be still! why throng upon the thought these scenes so deeply stained with sorrow's dye? Is there in all thy stores no cheerful draught, To brighten yet once more in Fancy's eye? Yes--from afar a landscape seems to rise, Embellished by the lavish hand of spring; Thin gilded clouds float lightly through the skies, And laughing loves disport on fluttering wing. How blest the youth in yonder valley laid! What smiles in every conscious feature play! While, to the murmurs of the breezy glade, His merry pipe attunes the rural lay. Hail, Innocence! whose bosom all serene, Feels not, as yet, the internal tempest roll. Oh, ne'er may care distract thy placid mein! Ne'er may the shades of doubt o'erwhelm thy soul For further reading of The Triumph of Melancholy visit http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/49216/ |
Works Citedhttp://www.iep.utm.edu/wp-content/media/beattie.jpg
http://www.oxforddnb.com/images/article-imgs/1/01831_1_200px.jpg http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9781140747178_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG http://www.rookebooks.com/FCKfiles/Image/books/08ha-10-10/DSC_0026 http://uploads8.wikipaintings.org/images/joseph-wright/edwin-from-minstrel-by-dr-beattie.jpg!xlMedium.jpg |