"But, after Fancy's eagle-flights were o'er, / And heav'n-illumin'd Genius could no more; / Thus, conscious all his best essays how vain, / Might the rapt bard conclude his humble strain."
— Stevenson, William (1730-1783)
Place of Publication
Edinburgh
Date
1761, 1765
Metaphor
"But, after Fancy's eagle-flights were o'er, / And heav'n-illumin'd Genius could no more; / Thus, conscious all his best essays how vain, / Might the rapt bard conclude his humble strain."
Metaphor in Context
But, after Fancy's eagle-flights were o'er,
And heav'n-illumin'd Genius could no more;
Thus, conscious all his best essays how vain,
Might the rapt bard conclude his humble strain.
"O great Original of life, and good,
"And excellence! how little understood!
"From first to last unchangeably the same!
"I AM--thy dread unutterable name!
"Eternal King of kings! Almighty Pow'r!
"On whom depends Creation ev'ry hour,
"Depends for support, beauty, order, life,
"Else one vast scene of elemental strife!
"Oh! pardon (angels fail alike with me)
"This impotent attempt to sing of Thee!
"How shall a worm Omnipotence address;
"Range its confin'd ideas, or express?
"To Thee can languid mortal praise extend?
"Or infinite thought finite comprehend?
"Yet, though retir'd on high from human sight
"In mansions unapproachable of light;
"Though angels thy creative footsteps trace
"Through all the vast immensity of space;
"If Majesty Supreme can stoop so low,
"Or on a worthless worm a look bestow;
"Oh be Thou ever, merciful and kind,
"As Virtue finds Thee, present to my mind;
"From sudden weighty trials to secure,
"Which Nature is too feeble to endure;
"Or, if permitted, that, without a tear,
"Reason assisted may their pressure bear.
"To Thee, before the first approach of light,
"Dispels the congregated gloom of night,
"Or welcome slumbers close my willing eyes,
"May, like pure incense, my devotions rise.
"If Fortune her proud favours should bestow,
"And life's full cup with blessings overflow;
"In Thee alone may I expect to find
"An equable and unelated mind.
"But if Heav'n's boon is a depress'd estate,
"And poverty is my appointed fate;
"May the pert tongue of Discontent refrain,
"If it would boldly venture to complain.
(pp. 67-68, ll. 167-208)
And heav'n-illumin'd Genius could no more;
Thus, conscious all his best essays how vain,
Might the rapt bard conclude his humble strain.
"O great Original of life, and good,
"And excellence! how little understood!
"From first to last unchangeably the same!
"I AM--thy dread unutterable name!
"Eternal King of kings! Almighty Pow'r!
"On whom depends Creation ev'ry hour,
"Depends for support, beauty, order, life,
"Else one vast scene of elemental strife!
"Oh! pardon (angels fail alike with me)
"This impotent attempt to sing of Thee!
"How shall a worm Omnipotence address;
"Range its confin'd ideas, or express?
"To Thee can languid mortal praise extend?
"Or infinite thought finite comprehend?
"Yet, though retir'd on high from human sight
"In mansions unapproachable of light;
"Though angels thy creative footsteps trace
"Through all the vast immensity of space;
"If Majesty Supreme can stoop so low,
"Or on a worthless worm a look bestow;
"Oh be Thou ever, merciful and kind,
"As Virtue finds Thee, present to my mind;
"From sudden weighty trials to secure,
"Which Nature is too feeble to endure;
"Or, if permitted, that, without a tear,
"Reason assisted may their pressure bear.
"To Thee, before the first approach of light,
"Dispels the congregated gloom of night,
"Or welcome slumbers close my willing eyes,
"May, like pure incense, my devotions rise.
"If Fortune her proud favours should bestow,
"And life's full cup with blessings overflow;
"In Thee alone may I expect to find
"An equable and unelated mind.
"But if Heav'n's boon is a depress'd estate,
"And poverty is my appointed fate;
"May the pert tongue of Discontent refrain,
"If it would boldly venture to complain.
(pp. 67-68, ll. 167-208)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
At least 4 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1761, 1765, 1780).
Text from Original Poems on Several Subjects. In Two Volumes. By William Stevenson (Edinburgh: Printed by A. Donaldson and J. Reid. Sold by Alexander Donaldson, in London and Edinburgh, 1765). <Link to ESTC>
See Vertumnus; or, The Progress of Spring: A Poetical Essay. (Glasgow : Printed for Robert Urie, 1761). [published anonymously, ESTC does not give Stevenson as author.] <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
See also Vertumnus; or the Progress of Spring: A Poetical Essay. (Glasgow: printed by R. and T. Duncan, 1780). 1761). [Published anonymously, ESTC does not give Stevenson as author, not in ECCO and not consulted.] <Link to ESTC>
Text from Original Poems on Several Subjects. In Two Volumes. By William Stevenson (Edinburgh: Printed by A. Donaldson and J. Reid. Sold by Alexander Donaldson, in London and Edinburgh, 1765). <Link to ESTC>
See Vertumnus; or, The Progress of Spring: A Poetical Essay. (Glasgow : Printed for Robert Urie, 1761). [published anonymously, ESTC does not give Stevenson as author.] <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
See also Vertumnus; or the Progress of Spring: A Poetical Essay. (Glasgow: printed by R. and T. Duncan, 1780). 1761). [Published anonymously, ESTC does not give Stevenson as author, not in ECCO and not consulted.] <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
08/28/2014
