"These are the marks which heav'n itself design'd, / The sterling standards of the human mind"
— Jemmat [née Yeo], Catherine (bap. 1714, d. 1766?)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for the Author
Date
1766
Metaphor
"These are the marks which heav'n itself design'd, / The sterling standards of the human mind"
Metaphor in Context
With sympathetic warmth to feel the throws,
And racking anguish of another's woes;
For others pains to heave the swelling breast,
Where strong benevolence lies deep imprest:
To melt with pity, and with tender care,
To drop, for deep distress, the generous tear:
These are the marks which heav'n itself design'd,
The sterling standards of the human mind;
And these the lines which in the bosom trace,
The fair resemblance of celestial grace.
Yet more it meant than mere compassion can,
By placing kindness in the heart of man:
'Tis not enough to sympathize with grief,
Unless we labour to afford relief;
The will to mortals vainly might be giv'n,
But Power's the great prerogative of heav'n;
And heav'n, who gave that power, will sure demand
Its full exertion from the bounteous hand.
Obedient to this call, with true delight,
We view the fair assembly of to-night;
All met your generous bounty to extend,
And to the sick and poor your succour lend;
While we our little mite with pleasure join,
Proud to be aiding this humane design.
And racking anguish of another's woes;
For others pains to heave the swelling breast,
Where strong benevolence lies deep imprest:
To melt with pity, and with tender care,
To drop, for deep distress, the generous tear:
These are the marks which heav'n itself design'd,
The sterling standards of the human mind;
And these the lines which in the bosom trace,
The fair resemblance of celestial grace.
Yet more it meant than mere compassion can,
By placing kindness in the heart of man:
'Tis not enough to sympathize with grief,
Unless we labour to afford relief;
The will to mortals vainly might be giv'n,
But Power's the great prerogative of heav'n;
And heav'n, who gave that power, will sure demand
Its full exertion from the bounteous hand.
Obedient to this call, with true delight,
We view the fair assembly of to-night;
All met your generous bounty to extend,
And to the sick and poor your succour lend;
While we our little mite with pleasure join,
Proud to be aiding this humane design.
Categories
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry); found again "sterling" and "mind
Date of Entry
02/10/2005
