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Poem
September 5, 1803
The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
An elegy mourning the death of Dr. Darwin, celebrating his genius in science, medicine, and poetry, his efforts to combat death and pain, and his soul's ascent to heavenly light.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
For the National Intelligencer
ELEGY
ON THE DEATH OF
DR. DARWIN.
Hear you that knell, which tremulously slow
Bespake the parting of a venerated shade?
Know you for whom this messenger of woe
Sent its deep notes throughout the darkened glade
Not one, whose life insipidly become,
Of ease and idleness the torpid prey,
Who smiled at glory and immortal fame,
And vegetating passed the listless day.
Darwin's no more! the tributary due,
To death once paid, his soul has sped the flight
Spurn'd the dense ether, realized the view,
Of heavenly regions and eternal light.
Gladly his dawning genius science hail'd.
And bade philosophy his mind engage;
Reluctant nature saw her shrine unveiled
And fear'd his knowledge, though he lov'd the sage.
To turn the pallid tyrant's fatal dart,
To soothe the pang of agonizing pain,
To heal the sorrows of a bleeding heart,
And lead Hygeia to her seat again.
Such was his task, insidious to wound,
His shafts in vain the grisly monarch aim'd
'Till one sad melancholy moment found.
His rival lost, but now his victim claim'd.
To melt the listening soul 'twas given,
The muse's av'rite, the friend of man;
Eager he grasp'd the partial boon of heaven,
And wak'd to melody, his course began.
The gnomes and sylphs who with a poet's fire
He chose the theme of his mellifluous lays,
When with a master's hand he swept the lyre,
And gain'd Britannia's everlasting praise.
On airy pinions soon shall hast'ning Fame,
His lov'd remains from injury to save,
To kind remembrance drop a pitying tear,
And deck with flowery wreaths their poet's grave.
ELEGY
ON THE DEATH OF
DR. DARWIN.
Hear you that knell, which tremulously slow
Bespake the parting of a venerated shade?
Know you for whom this messenger of woe
Sent its deep notes throughout the darkened glade
Not one, whose life insipidly become,
Of ease and idleness the torpid prey,
Who smiled at glory and immortal fame,
And vegetating passed the listless day.
Darwin's no more! the tributary due,
To death once paid, his soul has sped the flight
Spurn'd the dense ether, realized the view,
Of heavenly regions and eternal light.
Gladly his dawning genius science hail'd.
And bade philosophy his mind engage;
Reluctant nature saw her shrine unveiled
And fear'd his knowledge, though he lov'd the sage.
To turn the pallid tyrant's fatal dart,
To soothe the pang of agonizing pain,
To heal the sorrows of a bleeding heart,
And lead Hygeia to her seat again.
Such was his task, insidious to wound,
His shafts in vain the grisly monarch aim'd
'Till one sad melancholy moment found.
His rival lost, but now his victim claim'd.
To melt the listening soul 'twas given,
The muse's av'rite, the friend of man;
Eager he grasp'd the partial boon of heaven,
And wak'd to melody, his course began.
The gnomes and sylphs who with a poet's fire
He chose the theme of his mellifluous lays,
When with a master's hand he swept the lyre,
And gain'd Britannia's everlasting praise.
On airy pinions soon shall hast'ning Fame,
His lov'd remains from injury to save,
To kind remembrance drop a pitying tear,
And deck with flowery wreaths their poet's grave.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Science Progress
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Elegy Dr Darwin
Death Mourning
Science Philosophy
Medicine Hygeia
Poetry Muse
Britannia Praise
Poem Details
Title
Elegy On The Death Of Dr. Darwin.
Subject
On The Death Of Dr. Darwin
Key Lines
Hear You That Knell, Which Tremulously Slow
Bespake The Parting Of A Venerated Shade?
Darwin's No More! The Tributary Due,
To Death Once Paid, His Soul Has Sped The Flight
Spurn'd The Dense Ether, Realized The View,
Of Heavenly Regions And Eternal Light.
To Turn The Pallid Tyrant's Fatal Dart,
To Soothe The Pang Of Agonizing Pain,
To Heal The Sorrows Of A Bleeding Heart,
And Lead Hygeia To Her Seat Again.
The Gnomes And Sylphs Who With A Poet's Fire
He Chose The Theme Of His Mellifluous Lays,
When With A Master's Hand He Swept The Lyre,
And Gain'd Britannia's Everlasting Praise.