"Death reveals his bright associate Truth,/ (Whose rays the new-departed soul illume, / Like those eternal lamps that light the tomb,)"
— Grant [née MacVicar], Anne (1755-1838)
Place of Publication
Edinburgh
Publisher
Printed by James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown
Date
1814
Metaphor
"Death reveals his bright associate Truth,/ (Whose rays the new-departed soul illume, / Like those eternal lamps that light the tomb,)"
Metaphor in Context
If aught the horrors of such views can sooth,
When Death reveals his bright associate Truth,
(Whose rays the new-departed soul illume,
Like those eternal lamps that light the tomb,)
The lessons in Adversity's dark school,
That fond presumption's headlong fervour cool;
The heart-struck agony, the deep distress,
That impious pride and daring thoughts repress;
The manly truth that spurns at vain pretence,
The pious awe that trembles at offence;
Attention deep, which weightier themes engage,
These symptoms of a new and better age,
Which still progressive, though unfolding slow,
Strike deep their roots, where tears were wont to flow,
And, like the cypress, rear th' unfading head
Among the mournful dwellings of the dead;--
These can, where hope survives, impart a balm,
And Memory's hoard of secret anguish calm.
The nations by affliction taught and blest,
No longer dazzled, blinded, and opprest,
Shall break at once through custom's wonted ties,
And nobly bold in mental freedom rise.
Their native language, and their country's cause,
Shall guide their way to honour and applause;
Their taste in servile chains no more confined,
Shall move as freely as the liberal wind;
From each enlighten'd nation chuse the best,
Yet scorn a whole in foreign graces drest;
To all acquirements give their native tone,
And form a taste peculiarly their own.
When Death reveals his bright associate Truth,
(Whose rays the new-departed soul illume,
Like those eternal lamps that light the tomb,)
The lessons in Adversity's dark school,
That fond presumption's headlong fervour cool;
The heart-struck agony, the deep distress,
That impious pride and daring thoughts repress;
The manly truth that spurns at vain pretence,
The pious awe that trembles at offence;
Attention deep, which weightier themes engage,
These symptoms of a new and better age,
Which still progressive, though unfolding slow,
Strike deep their roots, where tears were wont to flow,
And, like the cypress, rear th' unfading head
Among the mournful dwellings of the dead;--
These can, where hope survives, impart a balm,
And Memory's hoard of secret anguish calm.
The nations by affliction taught and blest,
No longer dazzled, blinded, and opprest,
Shall break at once through custom's wonted ties,
And nobly bold in mental freedom rise.
Their native language, and their country's cause,
Shall guide their way to honour and applause;
Their taste in servile chains no more confined,
Shall move as freely as the liberal wind;
From each enlighten'd nation chuse the best,
Yet scorn a whole in foreign graces drest;
To all acquirements give their native tone,
And form a taste peculiarly their own.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "soul" and "lamp" in HDIS (Poetry)
Date of Entry
01/18/2006
