Scholars’ Grotto

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  WHY all this solemn Apparatusapparatus? why? Apparatus | apparatus |

Why all this Din,din about a Worm’s worm’s Concernsconcerns? Din, | Worm’s | Concerns | din | worm’s | concerns |

The Childchild of Dustdust, of Miserymisery, of Scornscorn; Child | Dust | Misery | Scorn | child | dust | misery | scorn |

The Preyprey of Flatteryflattery, the Foodfood of Pridepride; Prey | Flattery | Food | Pride | prey | flattery | food | pride |

Vain Expectation’s expectation’s Bubblebubble, Reason’s reason’s Dupedupe; Expectation’s | Bubble | Reason’s | Dupe | expectation’s | bubble | reason’s | dupe |

By frantic Hopehope misled; and lost in WhirlswhirlsHope | Whirls | hope | whirls |

Of visionary Scenesscenes, enchanted Pilespiles, Scenes | Piles | scenes | piles |

The fancy’d Fabricksfabricks built by VanityvanityFabricks | Vanity | fabricks | vanity |

Upon the Vapoursvapours of a heated Brainbrain; Vapours | Brain | vapours | brain |

By Craftcraft kept up in injur’d Reason’s Spightreason’s spight, Craft | Reason’s Spight | craft | reason’s spight |

By Customcustom held in reverential Aweawe; Custom | Awe | custom | awe |

The sacred Bugbearsbugbears1 of a frighted Worldworld; Bugbears | World | bugbears | world |

To serve the Purposepurpose of designing Knavesknaves, Purpose | Knaves | purpose | knaves |

And yoke the Neckneck of Foolsfools? —— Neck | Fools | neck | fools |

  The awful Templestemples, Tombstombs, and tolling Clocksclocks; Temples | Tombs | Clocks | temples | tombs | clocks |

The midnight Dampsdamps that drop from weeping Yewsyews, Damps | Yews | damps | yews |

Beneath th’ eclipsed Moonmoon, (the Scriech-Owl’s scriech-owl’s Haunt)haunt)Moon | Scriech-Owl’s | Haunt) | moon | scriech-owl’s | haunt) |

Drenching the Lockslocks of some night-watching Pilgrimpilgrim, Locks | Pilgrim | locks | pilgrim |

Who sits, in dismal Meditationmeditation wrapt, Meditation | meditation |

And brainsick Horrorhorror, o’er yon mould’ring Gravegrave, Horror | Grave | horror | grave |

By Timetime defac’d, and frequent Footstepsfootsteps worn: Time | Footsteps | time | footsteps |

No Markmark remaining, but th’ erected StonestoneMark | Stone | mark | stone |

Inscrib’d with Narrativesnarratives uncouth of Birthbirth, Narratives | Birth | narratives | birth |

Of Deathdeath, (a mute unmeaning Blankblank between) Death | Blank | death | blank |

The Chissel’s chissel’s Storystory to the pensive Hindhind, Chissel’s | Story | Hind | chissel’s | story | hind |

Who painful pores upon the wasted Wordswords, Words | words |

And puzzling scans th’ imperfect CharacterscharactersCharacters | characters |

Half hid in Nettlesnettles, and perplex’d with Thornthorn. Nettles | Thorn | nettles | thorn |

Here, moping Superstitionsuperstition nightly broods; Superstition | superstition |

Here counts the Clarionclarion of the Birdbird of Dawndawn, Clarion | Bird | Dawn | clarion | bird | dawn |

Whose dreary Notenote proclaims the ebbing Nightnight, Note | Night | note | night |

And drives the frighted Goblingoblin to his Haunthaunt, Goblin | Haunt | goblin | haunt |

The Time-recording time-recording Cockcock: or to the WindswindsTime-recording | Cock | Winds | time-recording | cock | winds |

Repeats her unavailing Vespersvespers o’er; Vespers | vespers |

The Windswinds, that mournful yell, from ecchoing Vaultsvaults, Winds | Vaults | winds | vaults |

And broken Sepulchressepulchres, their groaning Accentsaccents; Sepulchres | Accents | sepulchres | accents |

As if they wail’d the long-departed long-departing Deaddead, long-departed | Dead | long-departing | dead |

Who slumber, deep in everlasting Nightnight, Night | night |

Within these dreary Mansionsmansions; where no DawndawnMansions | Dawn | mansions | dawn |

Returns. Thus, hideous Melancholymelancholy dips Melancholy | melancholy |

Her Pencilpencil, still,still in dark delusive Tinctstincts, Pencil | still, | Tincts | pencil | still | tincts |

And paints the Faceface of Thingsthings; detested Groupegrowpe!2 Face | Things | Groupe | face | things | growpe |

A Landskiplandskip3 fit for Hell: hell: the Work work of Fiendsfiends! Landskip | Hell: | Work | Fiends | landskip | hell: | work | fiends |

  Let rescu’d Fancyfancy turn aloft her Eyeeye, Fancy | Eye | fancy | eye |

And view yon wide extended Archarch; beholdbeholdArch | behold | arch | behold |

Yon Crystal crystal Concaveconcave, studded with the Gemsgems, Crystal | Concave | Gems | crystal | concave | gems |

The radiant Gemsgems of Heav’nheav’n, that nightly burn Gems | Heav’n | gems | heav’n |

In golden Lampslamps, and gild th’ ætherial Spacespace; Lamps | Space | lamps | space |

That smiling Vaultvault, that Canopycanopy of Starsstars, Vault | Canopy | Stars | vault | canopy | stars |

Those cluster’d Constellationsconstellations! Markmark, yon MoonmoonConstellations | Mark | Moon | constellations | mark | moon |

Serenely shine; (her borrow’d Lustrelustre full;) Lustre | lustre |

The Mountain mountain Topstops, the Rocksrocks, the Valesvales, the Lawnslawns, Mountain | Tops | Rocks | Vales | Lawns | mountain | tops | rocks | vales | lawns |

By her set off, adorn’d, and made delightful:

The boundless Mainmain, a polish’d Mirrormirror now, Main | Mirror | main | mirror |

Reflecting, from its Bosombosom, back, the vast, Bosom | bosom |

The wonderful, the glorious, glad Appearanceappearance! Appearance | appearance |

Bright Visionsvisions eccho to th’ enchanted inchanted Eyeeye; Visions | enchanted | Eye | visions | inchanted | eye |

As, on the Earear, harmonious Soundssounds return Ear | Sounds | ear | sounds |

In mimic Notesnotes, responsive made to fill, Notes | notes |

To charm the Fancyfancy, with repeated Transporttransport. Fancy | Transport | fancy | transport |

All these, in their eternal Roundround, rejoice; Round | round |

All these, with universal Praisepraise, proclaim Praise | praise |

Their great Creatorcreator; bountiful, benign, Creator | creator |

Immensely good, rejoicing in his Creaturescreatures! Creatures | creatures |

Behold, yon blazing Sunsun! but, Oh, to what; Sun | sun |

To what shall we compare; (away with such

A Thoughtthought) to what resemble him! this Globeglobe; Thought | Globe | thought | globe |

Ten thousand thousand Worldsworlds, beyond where SpacespaceWorlds | Space | worlds | space |

Exists, where Mattermatter lives; beyond the GraspgraspMatter | Grasp | matter | grasp |

Of human Thoughtthought, Imagination’s imagination’s Kenken, Thought | Imagination’s | Ken | thought | imagination’s | ken |

Nay Reason’s reason’s Reachreach, the Intellectintellect of Angels?angels?— Reason’s | Reach | Intellect | Angels? | reason’s | reach | intellect | angels? |

But, Silencesilence best becomes the boundless Themetheme; Silence | Theme | silence | theme |

In Wonderwonder swallow’d up, and deep Astonishmentastonishment! Wonder | Astonishment | wonder | astonishment |

  What should we fear? Thisthis glorious Prospectprospect brings This | Prospect | this | prospect |

No dreadful Phantomphantom to the frighted Eyeeye, Phantom | Eye | phantom | eye |

No Terrorterror to the Soulsoul; ’tis Transporttransport all! Terror | Soul | Transport | terror | soul | transport |

Here Fancyfancy roves, in sweet VarietyvarietyFancy | Variety | fancy | variety |

For ever lost; her native Blissbliss. For her, Bliss | bliss |

The blue ethereal Archarch expands; her TabletableArch | Table | arch | table |

Spread out with all the Daintiesdainties of the Skysky, Dainties | Sky | dainties | sky |

Imagination’s rich Regaleregale. For her Regale | regale |

The Cloudsclouds absorb the Ev’ning ev’ning Rayray; and drink Clouds | Ev’ning | Ray | clouds | ev’ning | ray |

The liquid Goldgold, which stains their fleecy SidessidesGold | Sides | gold | sides |

With all the Tinctstincts of Heav’nheav’n, transmitted through Tincts | Heav’n | tincts | heav’n |

A thousand diff’rent Strainersstrainers to the Eyeeye, Strainers | Eye | strainers | eye |

And thence upon the ravish’d Soulsoul diffus’d. Soul | soul |

The blushing Beautiesbeauties of the infant Mornmorn, Beauties | Morn | beauties | morn |

Aurora’s Saffron saffron Beambeam; the splendid Bowbow, Saffron | Beam | Bow | saffron | beam | bow |

Whose copious Archarch was bent by Handshands divine, Arch | Hands | arch | hands |

An Emblememblem form’d of half Eternityeternity, Emblem | Eternity | emblem | eternity |

By Angelsangels robe’d in all the Aggregateaggregate, Angels | Aggregate | angels | aggregate |

Th’ unblended Aggregateaggregate, of various Dayday, Aggregate | Day | aggregate | day |

Of Heav’n’sheav’n’s own Dayday; and from its Sun-beamssun-beams drawn, Heav’n’s | Day | Sun-beams | heav’n’s | day | sun-beams |

In all its Tingestinges dipt, its Gloriesglories dress’d. Tinges | Glories | tinges | glories |

For her, the smiling Earthearth puts on her Mantlemantle; Earth | Mantle | earth | mantle |

Her Mantlemantle green, with purple mix’d, with Gold,gold,4 Mantle | Gold, | mantle | gold, |

With all the Liv’riesliv’ries of the youthful Springspring, Liv’ries | Spring | liv’ries | spring |

To wake new Rapturesraptures in the Heartheart of Manman; Raptures | Heart | Man | raptures | heart | man |

And fill his Soulsoul with Gratitudegratitude immense. Soul | Gratitude | soul | gratitude |

All these are Reason’s reason’s Treasurestreasures, Storesstores of Thoughtthought; Reason’s | Treasures | Stores | Thought | reason’s | treasures | stores | thought |

Reflection’s unexhausted Fundsfunds, replete Funds | funds |

With Mattermatter for her own delightful Tasktask. Matter | Task | matter | task |

Here Wisdomwisdom works at large; here smiling builds, Wisdom | wisdom |

For sweet Contentcontent, a homely Shedshed; where Joyjoy, Content | Shed | Joy | content | shed | joy |

Where Gladnessgladness, visit oft her temp’rate Guestsguests, Gladness | Guests | gladness | guests |

And make their willing Staystay: here, undisturb’d, Stay | stay |

They reign, they revel, take their Fillfill of all Fill | fill |

That Naturenature (ever bounteous Mother)mother) yields, Nature | Mother) | nature | mother) |

For Useuse or Pleasurepleasure: but Excessexcess avoid; Use | Pleasure | Excess | use | pleasure | excess |

That Fiendfiend accurs’d, whose bloated Visagevisage wan, Fiend | Visage | fiend | visage |

And troubled Eyeeye, betray her inward Pangpang, Eye | Pang | eye | pang |

Which shakes severe her paralytic Nervenerve, Nerve | nerve |

Her tott’ring Frameframe; e’er Deathdeath, by Naturenature taught, Frame | Death | Nature | frame | death | nature |

And Timetime, in Seasonseason, due, with gentle HandhandTime | Season | Hand | time | season | hand |

Can cut the wasted Threadthread: Excessexcess usurps Thread | Excess | thread | excess |

With Forceforce th’ abortive Tasktask, and vindicates Force | Task | force | task |

Her Preyprey——Come all, ye Familyfamily of Joyjoy; Prey | Family | Joy | prey | family | joy |

Ye Childrenchildren of the chearful Hourhour, begot Children | Hour | children | hour |

By Wisdomwisdom on the virtuous Mindmind; O, come! Wisdom | Mind | wisdom | mind |

Come Innocenceinnocence, in conscious Strengthstrength secure; Innocence | Strength | innocence | strength |

Come Couragecourage, foremost in the manly Traintrain; Courage | Train | courage | train |

Come all; and in the honest Heartheart abide, Heart | heart |

Your native Residenceresidence, your Fortressfortress still, Residence | Fortress | residence | fortress |

From real or from fancy’d Evilsevils free: Evils | evils |

O, come; indignant, drive out, far beyond

The utmost Precinctsprecincts of the human Breastbreast, Precincts | Breast | precincts | breast |

Beyond the Springssprings of Hopehope, the Cellscells of Joyjoy, Springs | Hope | Cells | Joy | springs | hope | cells | joy |

And ev’ry Mansionmansion where a Virtuevirtue lives; Mansion | Virtue | mansion | virtue |

O drive far off, for ever drive that Banebane, Bane | bane |

That hideous Pestpest, engender’d deep in Hellhell, Pest | Hell | pest | hell |

Where Stygian Gloomsglooms condens’d dimension’d Darknessdarkness, Glooms | Darkness | glooms | darkness |

Contains, within its dire Embraceembrace, that MonstermonsterEmbrace | Monster | embrace | monster |

Horrid to Sightsight, and by the frighted FuriesfuriesSight | Furies | sight | furies |

In their dread Pannic pannic Superstition nam’d! Pannic | pannic |

  The close contracted Spanspan of human Lifelife5 Span | Life | span | life |

Is dearly purchas’d by the Sonssons of Carecare; Sons | Care | sons | care |

Since Sicknesssickness, Disappointmentdisappointment, Painpain, and Deathdeath, Sickness | Disappointment | Pain | Death | sickness | disappointment | pain | death |

A thousand vary’d unavoided Evilsevils, Evils | evils |

Prey hourly on the vexing Heartheart of Manman, Heart | Man | heart | man |

Like Officersofficers of Wrathwrath, let loose by Pridepride, Officers | Wrath | Pride | officers | wrath | pride |

To raise the rigid Taxtax on wretched Beingbeing; Tax | Being | tax | being |

A dreadful Int’restint’rest, for a Sumsum so small! Int’rest | Sum | int’rest | sum |

Enough are these, alas, to gall and sting!

What need we then for fancy’d Evilsevils seek, Evils | evils |

To scare the Soulsoul, and harrow up the Heartheart, Soul | Heart | soul | heart |

Already toss’d, and torn, and broken down

By Evilsevils of its own Contrivance? contrivance? EvilsevilsEvils | Contrivance? | Evils | evils | contrivance? | evils |

Still adverse found, to Nature’s nature’s wholesome wholsome Waysways; Nature’s | wholesome | Ways | nature’s | wholsome | ways |

The Banebane of ev’ry Blissbliss, and social Joyjoy: Bane | Bliss | Joy | bane | bliss | joy |

Ambition, with her Traintrain; and Luxuryluxury, Train | Luxury | train | luxury |

With Customcustom link’d, with fell Corruptioncorruption join’d, Custom | Corruption | custom | corruption |

Led up by Fashionfashion in her frantic Dancedance, Fashion | Dance | fashion | dance |

Follow’d by Miserymisery, Despairdespair, and Deathdeath. Misery | Despair | Death | misery | despair | death |

For Pity’s pity’s Sakesake, forbear to haunt the WorldworldPity’s | Sake | World | pity’s | sake | world |

With hideous Spectresspectres, and fantastic Formsforms; Spectres | Forms | spectres | forms |

With harpy footed Furiesfuries, fearful Phantomsphantoms, Furies | Phantoms | furies | phantoms |

Everlasting Tormentstorments, and unquenched Firefire. Torments | Fire | torments | fire |

O say, what horrid Scenesscenes are these you draw! Scenes | scenes |

What Portraitsportraits of th’ Almighty! hence, away; Portraits | portraits |

See Reasonreason turns the Faceface aside, see NaturenatureReason | Face | Nature | reason | face | nature |

Start at the monstrous Formform! and cry aloud Form | form |

Through all her Worksworks, it is not like. Forbear, Works | works |

Ye croaking Ministersministers6 of midnight Dreamsdreams, Ministers | Dreams | ministers | dreams |

Ye madding Trumpeterstrumpeters of false Reportreport, Trumpeters | Report | trumpeters | report |

Forbear to pour your ghastly ImagesimagesImages | images |

On Truthtruth, nor give just Providenceprovidence the Lielie. Truth | Providence | Lie | truth | providence | lie |

What’s a Church-Yardchurch-yard, what I pray? Thisthis horrid GoblingoblinChurch-Yard | This | Goblin | church-yard | this | goblin |

Array’d in midnight Weedsweeds by frantic FancyfancyWeeds | Fancy | weeds | fancy |

I’ th’ solemn Moon-struck moon-struck Hourhour? a Bedbed prepar’d Moon-struck | Hour | Bed | moon-struck | hour | bed |

For silent unperceiving Dustdust that once Dust | dust |

To human Thoughtthought was wedded, vital Clayclay, Thought | Clay | thought | clay |

Divorc’d by Deathdeath to join the general Mothermother, Death | Mother | death | mother |

Divided far from its Companioncompanion dear, Companion | companion |

Th’ immortal Soulsoul, that now above the StarsstarsSoul | Stars | soul | stars |

Forgets this trampled Clodclod, and joins the ChoirschoirsClod | Choirs | clod | choirs |

Of Blissbliss, ’tis gloomy all and solemn. Hark, Bliss | bliss |

Was it the Clockclock that told the passing Hourhour, Clock | Hour | clock | hour |

And told it too at Midnightmidnight? when deep Silence Midnight | midnight |

And hideous Darknessdarkness reign o’er half the Worldworld: Darkness | World | darkness | world |

It was.——What then? it tells it too at Noonnoon, Noon | noon |

Amidst the Noisenoise and Sunshinesunshine of that Hourhour, Noise | Sunshine | Hour | noise | sunshine | hour |

The Clockclock that calls to Businessbusiness or to PleasurepleasureClock | Business | Pleasure | clock | business | pleasure |

The Sonssons of Avariceavarice and sensual Joyjoy. Sons | Avarice | Joy | sons | avarice | joy |

What tragic Bustlebustle when an Engineengine strikes! Bustle | Engine | bustle | engine |

Shall meer Negationsnegations, unsubstantial Shadesshades, Negations | Shades | negations | shades |

Such Monstersmonsters form, to fright th’ unthinking CrowcrowdMonsters | Crow | monsters | crowd |

To Fancyfancy tangible, to Terrorterror real? Fancy | Terror | fancy | terror |

Let Monksmonks, let Nursesnurses put these Vizorsvizors on, Monks | Nurses | Vizors | monks | nurses | vizors |

To startle Bigotsbigots, and astonish Babesbabes; Bigots | Babes | bigots, | babes |

Reason scorns, and Common Sensecommon sense defies ’em; Common Sense | common sense |

And who so weak to shudder at the SoundsoundSound | sound |

Of yon departed Momentmoment fled for ever! Moment | moment |

Or with his sad foreboding Sighssighs keep TimetimeSighs | Time | sighs | time |

To each elapsing Sandsand that silent flows Sand | sand |

From his exhausting Glassglass with breaking Heartheart: Glass | Heart | glass | heart |

“O wretched Avariceavarice of Breathbreath, to draw Avarice | Breath | avarice | breath |

“Fresh Airair, or gaze upon the wearied Sunsun; Air | Sun | air | sun |

To tread the same unvary’d Roundround with Painpain, Round | Pain | round | pain |

To eat, to drink, to sleep, to satisfy

Each sensual sordid Appetiteappetite, alas! Appetite | appetite |

How oft have distant Prospectsprospects, verdant Viewsviews, Prospects | Views | prospects | views |

With all that Fortune’sfortune’s faithless flattering MirrormirrorFortune’s | Mirror | fortune’s | mirror |

To sanguine Pridepride presents and vain Self-Loveself-love, Pride | Self-Love | pride | self-love |

How oft has cheated Hopehope complain’d, and sought Hope | hope |

For Refugerefuge in Despairdespair? The the Sensesense itself Refuge | Despair | The | Sense | refuge | despair | the | sense |

Grows weary of the Toiltoil, the beastly Toiltoil, Toil | Toil | toil | toil |

And Reasonreason oft repeats this Lessonlesson learn’d Reason | Lesson | reason | lesson |

From Painpain, ’tis Timetime to die; and what is TimetimePain | Time | Time | pain | time | time |

Itself! this awful Siresire of Birthsbirths prodigious; Sire | Births | sire | births |

The Creaturecreature of the Mindmind, no more: the VassalvassalCreature | Mind | Vassal | creature | mind | vassal |

Of Thoughtthought, whose very Beingbeing is the SoulsoulThought | Being | Soul | thought | being | soul |

Made short or long, as that is more or less

Employ’d——Good Heav’nheav’n and Earthearth, what horrid Noisenoise! Heav’n | Earth | Noise | heav’n | earth | noise |

What Stir,stir about a Reptile’sreptile’s poor Concernsconcerns! Stir, | Reptile’s | Concerns | stir | reptile’s | concerns |

And when a Wormworm expires, shall Naturenature, saysay,Worm | Nature | say | worm | nature | say, |

Shall suffering Naturenature sympathize with me? Nature | nature |

Re-eccho Groangroan for Groangroan? so Pridepride asserts; Groan | Groan | Pride | groan | groan | pride |

O, monstrous Pridepride! made drunk by Fancyfancy at Pride | Fancy | pride | fancy |

Ambition’s Feastfeast. Shall younder Sunsun be hid, Feast | Sun | feast | sun |

Fierce Ætna flame, and Thunderthunder shake the Polespoles, Thunder | Poles | thunder | poles |

Because, forsooth, some Springspring eccentric moves Spring | spring |

Within this frail Machinemachine? and Passionpassion sways Machine | Passion | machine | passion |

The Soulsoul, for this the universal FloodfloodSoul | Flood | soul | flood |

Broke loose beyond its stated Boundsbounds; for this! Bounds | bounds |

The Mountainsmountains melt, the Cometscomets glare; for this! Mountains | Comets | mountains | comets |

Shall Faminefamine, Pestilencepestilence, and Warwar devour? Famine | Pestilence | War | famine | pestilence | war |

But, hark! th’ infernal Forgeforge begins to roar, Forge | forge |

The Soundssounds of Sorrowsorrow, and the Yellsyells of Painpain, Sounds | Sorrow | Yells | Pain | sounds | sorrow | yells | pain |

Now tear the Shopshop of Deathdeath, and reach my Sensesense: Shop | Death | Sense | shop | death | sense |

The Flamesflames ascend, the Furiesfuries howl, and all Flames | Furies | flames | furies |

The Stygian Eccho’seccho’s ring a Pealpeal; a Pealpeal so loudloud,Eccho’s | Peal | Peal | loud | eccho’s | peal | peal | loud, |

That shakes the Northnorth of Hellhell, and makes the ThronethroneNorth | Hell | Throne | north | hell | throne |

Of Terrorterror start. O whence this fierce Uproaruproar! Terror | Uproar | terror | uproar |

This strong Convulsionconvulsion in the Realmsrealms of Woewoe! Convulsion | Realms | Woe | convulsion | realms | woe |

Behold yon Reptilereptile gasping in the Armsarms, Reptile | Arms | reptile | arms |

Th’ inexorable Armsarms of Deathdeath; how pale! Arms | Death | arms | death |

How ghastly are its Lookslooks! Ah! see, how Fearfear, Looks | Fear | looks | fear |

How Dread,dread distort the Faceface, and fix the Eyeeye, Dread, | Face | Eye | dread | face | eye |

The pallid Eyeeye, that Windowwindow of the Soulsoul, Eye | Window | Soul | eye | window | soul |

The parting Soulsoul, that Sparkspark of Entityentity, Soul | Spark | Entity | soul | spark | entity |

Which now stands shiv’ring on the Vergeverge of Lifelife, Verge | Life | verge | life |

And views th’ imaginary Gulphgulph beneath! Gulph | gulph |

What Horrorshorrors! O, what Anguishanguish, must she taste, Horrors | Anguish | horrors | anguish |

Whilst yet her Facultiesfaculties are left entire; Faculties | faculties |

Whilst yet, she views the gaping Fiendsfiends and Flamesflames! Fiends | Flames | fiends | flames |

O say, can human Thoughtthought, can Wordswords express, Thought | Words | thought | words |

What Naturenature feels in that tremendous Hourhour? Nature | Hour | nature | hour |

What Pangspangs, what Spasmsspasms, twisting too and fro Pangs | Spasms | pangs | spasms |

With irritated Forceforce, convulsive, tug Force | force |

The rooted Fibresfibres, and the Springssprings of Lifelife! Fibres | Springs | Life | fibres | springs | life |

By Horrorshorrors heighten’d, and distemper’d Fumesfumes, Horrors | Fumes | horrors | fumes |

That rack the Mindmind, and tear the tortur’d Frameframe; Mind | Frame | mind | frame |

Till the crack’d Heartheart, subdu’d at length, forgets Heart | heart |

To pant; and Deathdeath, in Mercymercy, ends the Frayfray: Death | Mercy | Fray | death | mercy | fray |

Nor only then, when near th’ expiring Gaspgasp, Gasp | gasp |

(Tho’ then, each Momentmoment counterweighs an Age)age)Moment | Age) | moment | age) |

Not only then, but through the goaded LengthlengthLength | length |

Of harrass’d Lifelife, we drag the burden’d WeightweightLife | Weight | life | weight |

Of slavish Fearfear, impos’d on Childhood’s childhood’s Thoughtthought, Fear | Childhood’s | Thought | fear | childhood’s | thought |

By Ignoranceignorance, made grey in gainful Errorerror, Ignorance | Error | ignorance | error |

And credulous Designdesign; who sit enthron’d, Design | design |

Like Tyrantstyrants of an antient Racerace, to plead Tyrants | Race | tyrants | race |

Prescription’s Rightright, and rule the passive Soulsoul. Right | Soul | right | soul |

Can then a gracious God be said to call

From forth the vacant unexisting Blankblank, Blank | blank |

A Racerace of Creaturescreatures capable of Joyjoy, Race | Creatures | Joy | race | creatures | joy |

Enrich’d with Thoughtthought, and warm with fierce Desiredesire; Thought | Desire | thought | desire |

With delicate Sensationssensations cover’d o’er, Sensations | sensations |

And nice Perceptionperception, prompt to gratify Perception | perception |

Th’ implanted Impulseimpulse, and the vig’rous Callcall? Impulse | Call | impulse | call |

When Naturenature makes her strong, her just Demanddemand; Nature | Demand | nature | demand |

When Passionpassion rises at the loud Alarmalarm; Passion | Alarm | passion | alarm |

Led up by Reasonreason to the genial Tasktask; Reason | Task | reason | task |

By Reasonreason guided to the wise Retreatretreat. Reason | Retreat | reason | retreat |

Can Justicejustice punish what herself decrees, Justice | justice |

And make Obedienceobedience to her Lawslaws a Crimecrime? Obedience | Laws | Crime | obedience | laws | crime |

Justice is Naturenature in her social Dressdress; Nature | Dress | nature | dress |

And social Virtuevirtue is the Voicevoice of Heav’nheav’n. Virtue | Voice | Heav’n | virtue | voice | heav’n |

Shall arbitrary Cobwebscobwebs skreen this Truthtruth, Cobwebs | Truth | cobwebs | truth |

With positive dogmatical Behestsbehests; Behests | behests |

And give yon blazing Sunsun the Lyelye? Awake, Sun | Lye | sun | lye |

Unhood-wink’d Manman, and cast abroad thy Eyeseyes; Man | Eyes | man | eyes |

Behold all Naturenature in one gen’rous Strifestrife, Nature | Strife | nature | strife |

The Warwar of Amityamity, and Discorddiscord sweet; War | Amity | Discord | war | amity | discord |

The Strifestrife of strong Benevolencebenevolence, behold, Strife | Benevolence | strife | benevolence |

The universal Agentsagents all at work, Agents | agents |

From diff’rent Quartersquarters, with contending Pow’rspow’rs; Quarters | Pow’rs | quarters | pow’rs |

In hostile Harmonyharmony, to propagate Harmony | harmony |

One glorious and eternal Goodgood to Manman: Good | Man | good | man |

To Beastsbeasts, to Fishfish, to Fowlfowl; to Plantsplants, perhaps;——perhaps;Beasts | Fish | Fowl | Plants | perhaps;—— | beasts | fish | fowl | plants | perhaps; |

To all that feel th’ informing Touchtouch of Goodgood, Touch | Good | touch | good |

With grateful Energyenergy their Texturetexture strike, Energy | Texture | energy | texture |

And send the gladsome Tidingtiding to the Soulsoul. Tiding | Soul | tiding | soul |

See Naturenature, in her various Stilestile, express Nature | Stile | nature | stile |

The thankful Tributetribute of incessant Praisepraise, Tribute | Praise | tribute | praise |

From lifeless Mattermatter, to the sprouting BladebladeMatter | Blade | matter | blade |

Of humble Grassgrass, upon the liv’ry’d Lawnlawn; Grass | Lawn | grass | lawn |

From trodden Daisiesdaisies, to the Plantplant of Jove.7 Daisies | Plant | daisies | plant |

  Behold the genial Ætheræther swarm with Lifelife; Æther | Life | æther | life |

With quick’ning Millionsmillions float. Behold the Antant, Millions | Ant | millions | ant |

That Citizencitizen severe, with all her TribestribesCitizen | Tribes | citizen | tribes |

Incorporate, or diff’rent colour’d Traintrain; Train | train |

Denisons of Dustdust, and privileg’d to think, Dust | dust |

Employ their parsimonious Intellectintellect, Intellect | intellect |

And in their Turnturn rejoice. ’Tis Life’slife’s great Chartercharter, Turn | Life’s | Charter | turn | life’s | charter |

Giv’n from Eternityeternity to all that breathe. Eternity | eternity |

Shall those, to whom our jealous Pridepride denies Pride | pride |

Superior Talentstalents, and immortal Thoughtthought; Talents | Thought | talents | thought |

Shall they, in Self-Felicityself-felicity, flow o’er, Self-Felicity | self-felicity |

And mental Transporttransport; since, no Joyjoy, alas, Transport | Joy | transport | joy |

But in the Mindmind, can live; shall they, whom we Mind | mind |

Meer Animatesanimates, miscall; shall they rejoice, Animates | animates |

With fearless Heartshearts, of Shadowsshadows fearless made, Hearts | Shadows | hearts | shadows |

And fancy’d Terrorsterrors all? Imaginary Terrors | terrors |

Phantoms! From these exempt, they live at Easeease; Ease | ease |

Regale each Sense;sense: enjoy Existenceexistence still, Sense; | Existence | sense: | existence |

Without Excessexcess. The Sonssons of Pridepride may here Excess | Sons | Pride | excess | sons | pride |

Be taught, what Instinctinstinct, and what Reasonreason mean: Instinct | Reason | instinct | reason |

Reason, thou Titletitle to superior Rankrank, Title | Rank | title | rank |

Thou dear bought Purchase topurchase of the Sonssons of Eve, Purchase to | Sons | purchase of | sons |

What Ravensravens, Vulturesvultures, and what Harpiesharpies cry, Ravens | Vultures | Harpies | ravens | vultures | harpies |

With What Clangclang incessant, o’er thy destin’d Headhead! With | Clang | Head | What | clang | head |

And scare thy timid Soulsoul, thou Lordlord of Naturenature! Soul | Lord | Nature | soul | lord | nature |

Beast and Angelangel join’d! eccentric Wretchwretch! Angel | Wretch | angel | wretch |

The Propertyproperty of Customcustom, Fraudfraud, and Cunningcunning! Property | Custom | Fraud | Cunning | property | custom | fraud | cunning |

The Dupedupe of Arrogancearrogance, the Foolfool of Formsforms! Dupe | Arrogance | Fool | Forms | dupe | arrogance | fool | forms |

With envious Eyeseyes, from thy exalted Standstand, Eyes | Stand | eyes | stand |

Look down upon thy subject Worldworld, and ask World | world |

Thy own experienc’d Heartheart, what living Thingthing, Heart | Thing | heart | thing |

Amidst the meanest Reptilesreptiles, in thy Reignreign, Reptiles | Reign | reptiles | reign |

Can suffer such Extremesextremes of Woewoe as thee? Extremes | Woe | extremes | woe |

Rise up, thou glorious Attributeattribute! assert Attribute | attribute |

Thy native Dignitydignity; rise up once more, Dignity | dignity |

In injur’d Man’s man’s Defencedefence; rise, Reasonreason, rise; Man’s | Defence | Reason | man’s | defence | reason |

And with thy Rayray, invincible, drive far Ray | ray |

These fancy-form’d, these monster-stalking Shadesshades, Shades | shades |

These Giant giant Shapesshapes, by Melancholymelancholy seen, Giant | Shapes | Melancholy | giant | shapes | melancholy |

With horrid Stridesstrides, to glance athwart the sick Strides | strides |

Imagination, curtain’d in already

By Superstition’s superstition’s Handhand, and terrify’d Superstition’s | Hand | superstition’s | hand |

By her magnific Glassglass, reflecting still Glass | glass |

The midnight Goblingoblin, and the ghastly Shadeshade. Goblin | Shade | goblin | shade |

In Justicejustice to thy Great great Creatorcreator, rise, Justice | Great | Creator | justice | great | creator |

To human Naturenature, and to injur’d Truthtruth: Nature | Truth | nature | truth |

Thou Attributeattribute divine! thou Rayray of God! Attribute | Ray | attribute | ray |

Immortal Reasonreason! come, and with thee bring Reason | reason |

In thy exulting Traintrain, invincible, Train | train |

The honest Purposepurpose, and the chearful Heartheart; Purpose | Heart | purpose | heart |

The joyful Fancyfancy, fill’d with ImagesimagesFancy | Images | fancy | images |

Of Truthtruth, of Sciencescience, and of social Lovelove. Truth | Science | Love | truth | science | love |

Let Friendshipfriendship too be there; O, closer to Friendship | friendship |

Thy sacred Breastbreast embrace her; closer yet: Breast | breast |

She comes, she comes, from Heav’nheav’n, her native Placeplace, Heav’n | Place | heav’n | place |

And with her see whate’er deserves thy Wishwish, Wish | wish |

Whate’er is cordial, comely, and humane,

Whate’er is rational, what’er is pure;

The Handmaidhandmaid of th’ Almighty, sent to bless Handmaid | handmaid |

The suffering Sonssons of Menmen; to soften Sorrowsorrow; Sons | Men | Sorrow | sons | men | sorrow |

To sweeten Carecare: Seraphic Guestguest! all hail! Care | Guest | care | guest |

Thou, dearer than Relationsrelations dear; than Sonson, Relations | Son | relations | son |

Than Fatherfather, Brotherbrother, Wifewife, or tender Tyetye; Father | Brother | Wife | Tye | father | brother | wife | tye |

Thou Childchild of sweet Benevolencebenevolence, begot Child | Benevolence | child | benevolence |

By Reasonreason on the virtuous Heartheart; arise, Reason | Heart | reason | heart |

Thou best belov’d of Heav’nheav’n! thou Joyjoy, thou CrowncrownHeav’n | Joy | Crown | heav’n | joy | crown |

Of Manman, arise; and from thy sacred PresencepresenceMan | Presence | man | presence |

Drive far each hideous Apparitionapparition, form’d Apparition | apparition |

By midnight Hagshags, beneath th’ abortive Gloomgloom, Hags | Gloom | hags | gloom |

The Banebane of ev’ry social Blissbliss; thy Banebane. Bane | Bliss | Bane | bane | bliss | bane |

What magic Soundssounds are these, that pow’rful shed Sounds | sounds |

Their thrilling Transporttransport through the raptur’d Soulsoul, Transport | Soul | transport | soul |

And captivate each Thoughtthought? ’Tis ’tis Music’s music’s Charmscharms. Thought | ’Tis | Music’s | Charms | thought | ’tis | music’s | charms |

Hark! again, again, they strike; again possess8

The Heartheart: O! sweeter, louder yet proclaim Heart | heart |

Thy large Dominiondominion o’er the kindred Soulsoul, Dominion | Soul | dominion | soul |

Extatic Harmonyharmony, triumphant Blissbliss, Harmony | Bliss | harmony | bliss |

To the glad Heartheart! where Virtuevirtue tunes the Stringsstrings. Heart | Virtue | Strings | heart | virtue | strings |

  Awake, awake, each chearful Thoughtthought; arise Thought | thought |

At that seraphic Callcall; ’tis Friendship’s friendship’s Voicevoice. Call | Friendship’s | Voice | call | friendship’s | voice |

Good Naturenature, now, arise, in Smilessmiles array’d; Nature | Smiles | nature | smiles |

Thou welcome Guestguest, with Aspectaspect open still, Guest | Aspect | guest | aspect |

And with unguarded Liplip, because thy HeartheartLip | Heart | lip | heart |

With social Fervorfervor glows, and sends its MessagemessageFervor | Message | fervor | message |

To the rich Tonguetongue, by Sensesense directed still; Tongue | Sense | tongue | sense |

By Prudenceprudence taught: Beholdbehold yon smiling Bowlbowl, Prudence | Behold | Bowl | prudence | behold | bowl |

By Temp’rancetemp’rance mix’d, with chearful Handhand, invites Temp’rance | Hand | temp’rance | hand |

Thy Liplip: Seesee blushing Beautybeauty there adorn’d Lip | See | Beauty | lip | see | beauty |

With Modestymodesty sublime, with Meeknessmeekness robe’d, Modesty | Meekness | modesty | meekness |

With Gracegrace invincible attract the Soulsoul, Grace | Soul | grace | soul |

And heighten ev’ry Joyjoy: Thou thou Fugitivefugitive, Joy | Thou | Fugitive | joy | thou | fugitive |

Fly far, intruding Carecare; from hence fly far; Care | care |

And in some Gothic Cellcell, with Superstitionsuperstition, Cell | Superstition | cell | superstition |

With slavish Horrorhorror, make thy drear Abodeabode. Horror | Abode | horror | abode |

Let in the mimic Artsarts, the Musemuse shall lead Arts | Muse | arts | muse |

Them in; herself their Chiefchief, their Crowncrown, their Pridepride, Chief | Crown | Pride | chief | crown | pride |

Immortal Pridepride, that hands them safe through all Pride | pride |

The Havockhavock and the Wreckswrecks of Timetime; by her Havock | Wrecks | Time | havock | wrecks | time |

Preserv’d, recorded, and immortal made.

Behold the magic Pencil’spencil’s mock Creationcreation; Pencil’s | Creation | pencil’s | creation |

The peopled Canvasscanvass, and the story’d Wallwall; Canvass | Wall | canvass | wall |

How Lifelife, how Passionpassion, blend together there! Life | Passion | life | passion |

To ravish, and to warm the wond’ring Soulsoul, Soul | soul |

And lift its Facultiesfaculties to Heav’nheav’n. O, there Faculties | Heav’n | faculties | heav’n |

Let Fancyfancy feast, and take her Fillfill of all, Fancy | Fill | fancy | fill |

That Geniusgenius, or that Learninglearning yield; of all Genius | Learning | genius | learning |

That Dignitydignity or Gracegrace bestow, to banquet Dignity | Grace | dignity | grace |

Reason, and cheerchear the Heartheart, susceptible, cheer | Heart | chear | heart |

Whom Geniusgenius, Tastetaste, and Sciencescience, form’d to feel, Genius | Taste | Science | genius | taste | science |

To foster, cherish, and enjoy the GuestsguestsGuests | guests |

Divine; the Soulsoul congenial, copious, warm, Soul | soul |

Exalted, and humane, with op’ning ArmsarmsArms | arms |

Will rush to meet Embraceembrace, and welcome in Embrace | embrace |

Th’ angelic Visitantsvisitants in meek Disguisedisguise, Visitants | Disguise | visitants | disguise |

In Britain yet, (alas, how few the Friendsfriends, Friends | friends |

The hospitable Friendsfriends they find) yet there, Friends | friends |

Yet even there, a Chesterfield and Holderness,

Anxious for their Country’scountry’s fading Gloryglory, Country’s | Glory | country’s | glory |

Inspir’d by Geniusgenius and immortal Famefame, Genius | Fame | genius | fame |

Throw wide their Gatesgates, and hail the mimic Artsarts. Gates | Arts | gates | arts |

Abroad, abroad, there Healthhealth invites thee forth; Health | health |

There, Pleasurepleasure courts thee in her russet RoberobePleasure | Robe | pleasure | robe |

Magnificent: the Morning morning Galesgales arise, Morning | Gales | morning | gales |

With freighted Pinionspinions wafting all the EasteastPinions | East | pinions | east |

In od’rous Incenseincense to thy ravish’d Mindmind; Incense | Mind | incense | mind |

Thy mind, dilated now with all the wide

Extended various Prospectprospect, stretch’d beneath Prospect | prospect |

The Copecope of Heav’nheav’n sublime; delicious Feastfeast! Cope | Heav’n | Feast | cope | heav’n | feast |

Th’ ecchoing Hillshills the chearing Hornhorn delight, Hills | Horn | hills | horn |

The Soulsoul exerting Clangorclangor, rip’ning Ceres, Soul | Clangor | soul | clangor |

And the rich swelling Grapegrape; in these exult, Grape | grape |

In these rejoice, thy Lotlot bestow’d, O Manman! Lot | Man | lot | man |

Whilst Youthyouth and Vigourvigour in thy Heartheart remain, Youth | Vigour | Heart | youth | vigour | heart |

And Naturenature bids thee to her Banquetbanquet come, Nature | Banquet | nature | banquet |

Thy Portionportion giv’n beneath the Sunsun. Once more, Portion | Sun | portion | sun |

Collect thy Pow’rspow’rs divine, once more drive off Pow’rs | pow’rs |

That evil Thingthing call’d Fearfear, that slavish Fiendfiend! Thing | Fear | Fiend | thing | fear | fiend |

Let Hopehope, let Joyjoy, thy Bosom bosom Inmatesinmates be, Hope | Joy | Bosom | Inmates | hope | joy | bosom | inmates |

Through Lifelife still cherish’d, and in Deathdeath held fast. Life | Death | life | death |

A Gracious gracious God, loud speaking to thy Heartheart, Gracious | Heart | gracious | heart |

Through all his Worksworks, this Truthtruth inculcates still, Works | Truth | works | truth |

Nature’s thy Nursenurse, and Providenceprovidence thy Friendfriend. Nurse | Providence | Friend | nurse | providence | friend |

Integrity, with fearless Heartheart, ride on, Heart | heart |

Undaunted, tread the various Pathpath, through Lifelife, Path | Life | path | life |

Which leads to Deathdeath, that hospitable Stagestage: Death | Stage | death | stage |

Where weary Naturenature takes her last Reposerepose, Nature | Repose | nature | repose |

And lays her down from Toiltoil, and Painpain, to rest Toil | Pain | toil | pain |

In sweet Oblivionoblivion wrapt; remote from Griefgrief, Oblivion | Grief | oblivion | grief |

And all th’ ingrafted Illsills which Lifelife has foster’d. Ills | Life | ills | life |

Why should approaching Deathdeath affright the Soul?soul?9 Death | Soul? | death | soul? |

Why Reasonreason start, and turn away from him, Reason | reason |

Who comes to bring us home from Miserymisery, Misery | misery |

Mistake and Fearfear? the Messengermessenger of Heav’nheav’n! Fear | Messenger | Heav’n | fear | messenger | heav’n |

No grisly Terrorterror to the honest Heartheart: Terror | Heart | terror | heart |

If God be just. O Blasphemyblasphemy, to doubt Blasphemy | blasphemy |

His Justicejustice or his Mercymercy!——Mercy all Justice | Mercy | justice | mercy |

(But not unjust) is God. O sacred SourcesourceSource | source |

Of Bountybounty, Lifelife, and Truthtruth eternal; rise, Bounty | Life | Truth | bounty | life | truth |

Look down, and vindicate thy injur’d Namename, Name | name |

From those, who dress thee out in Terrorterror, Thunderthunder, Terror | Thunder | terror | thunder |

Revenge, with flaming Boltsbolts and hissing Wheelswheels; Bolts | Wheels | bolts | wheels |

With all the dreadful Equipageequipage of Wrathwrath, Equipage | Wrath | equipage | wrath |

Infernal Malicemalice, and tyrannic Pridepride, Malice | Pride | malice | pride |

O Bigot bigot Blasphemyblasphemy! begot on Fearfear, Bigot | Blasphemy | Fear | bigot | blasphemy | fear |

By Pridepride made drunk! by Melancholymelancholy nurs’d! Pride | Melancholy | pride | melancholy |

By Ignoranceignorance, by Crueltycruelty, brought up! Ignorance | Cruelty | ignorance | cruelty |

By Craftcraft accomplish’d, and by Customcustom fix’d! Craft | Custom | craft | custom |

Detested Monstermonster!——Tell, ye Starsstars that rule Monster | Stars | monster | stars |

Th’ ambrosial Nightnight, thou circling Moonmoon proclaim, Night | Moon | night | moon |

Blazon abroad thy great Originaloriginal, Original | original |

Thou glorious Sunsun! of unperceiving Thingsthings, Sun | Things | sun | things |

Thy Maker’smaker’s brightest Imageimage! O declare, Maker’s | Image | maker’s | image |

Was it thy great, thy good Creator’s creator’s Viewview, Creator’s | View | creator’s | view |

(O Horrid horrid Planplan,) to cheat me into Beingbeing, Horrid | Plan | Being | horrid | plan | being |

To gratify Revengerevenge and Ragerage eternal, Revenge | Rage | revenge | rage |

In Torturestortures beyond Thoughtthought, and endless Woewoe. Tortures | Thought | Woe | tortures | thought | woe |

Can he enjoy a Wretch’s wretch’s Dolorsdolors? He exult Wretch’s | Dolors | wretch’s | dolors |

At Agonyagony? Can can Hehe, like Nero, view Agony | Can | He | agony | can | he |

His noblest Workwork consum’d, and triumph in Work | work |

The Blazeblaze? O Justicejustice, lifty thy righteous Armarm: Blaze | Justice | Arm | blaze | justice | arm |

Yet hold! Compassion, Patiencepatience, and Redressredress, Patience | Redress | patience | redress |

Still best become thee, ’tis but Frenzyfrenzy all, Frenzy | frenzy |

And brain-sick Rantrant, which Physick physick shou’dshould remove, Rant | Physick | shou’d | rant | physick | should |

And Reasonreason cool. Thou Homicidehomicide forbear! Reason | Homicide | reason | homicide |

And from thy Throatthroat thy desp’rate Handhand withdraw; Throat | Hand | throat | hand |

Lay down the murd’rous Knifeknife, the loaded Gungun, Knife | Gun | knife | gun |

And fling the baneful Volumevolume by; nay, burn it; Volume | volume |

Tear, scatter it abroad; O, quick deface

The pestilential Lyelye that taints the whole, Lye | lye |

And breathsbreathes thro’ ev’ry Pagepage. Away with such breaths | Page | breathes | page |

Contagion from the Eyeseyes of Manman; with Tombstombs, Eyes | Man | Tombs | eyes | man | tombs |

With Church-yardschurch-yards, tolling midnight Clocksclocks; away Church-yards | Clocks | church-yards | clocks |

With fun’ral Pomppomp, with gloomy mock Paradeparade, Pomp | Parade | pomp | parade |

With sable Hearseshearses, Scutcheonsscutcheons, nodding Plumesplumes, Hearses | Scutcheons | Plumes | hearses | scutcheons | plumes |

And all the dismal Pageantrypegeantry of Deathdeath. Pageantry | Death | pegeantry | death |

Let Fancyfancy drive these Goblinsgoblins from her Sightsight; Fancy | Goblins | Sight | fancy | goblins | sight |

Let Mirthmirth, let Joyjoy, let Transporttransport fill their Placeplace; Mirth | Joy | Transport | Place | mirth | joy | transport | place |

Philosophy and Faithfaith shall hand them in, Faith | faith |

And Naturenature bid them welcome. O rejoice, Nature | nature |

Distinguish’d Manman! rejoice, how bless’d thy Lotlot, Man | Lot | man | lot |

Whilst Reasonreason is thy Guideguide! look up, look up, Reason | Guide | reason | guide |

O see where Hopehope stands pointing to the Skysky, Hope | Sky | hope | sky |

On Sun-beamssun-beams rais’d, by Angelsangels beckon’d on; Sun-beams | Angels | sun-beams | angels |

See her celestial Flightflight, where thou shalt follow. Flight | flight |

Turn thy Eyeseyes thither; thither lift thy Heartheart. Eyes | Heart | eyes | heart |

Thy Gracious gracious God awaits thee there; to him Gracious | gracious |

Thou shalt return in Seasonseason due, to taste Season | season |

Immortal Transportstransports! thy Beginningbeginning, Endend, Transports | Beginning | End | transports | beginning | end |

Thy Centercenter, Fatherfather, Savioursaviour, and thy Friendfriend. Center | Father | Saviour | Friend | center | father | saviour | friend |

1. “A frightful object; a walking spectre, imagined to be seen; generally now used for a false terrour to frighten babes” (Samuel Johnson, Dictionary of the English Language). [Digital Edition]

2. The quarto and octavo editions record different archaic spellings of the word “groop,” a livestock gutter.

3. Although, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, this form of “landscape” was archaic in the eighteenth-century, it was still in use. The OED itself quotes mid-century examples from William Shenstone, the poet and landscape gardener. Jones may have wished to draw on medieval associations, however, as the old-fashioned spellings of “groop” in both editions of the poem suggest.

4. While the capitalization of colors could vary in eighteenth-century typesetting practice, the quarto’s capitalized “Gold,” appearing in the same sentence as uncapitalized green and purple, suggests that gold might be metal (a noun) rather than color (an adjective). The matter remains ambiguous, however; cf. Jones’s use of “Saffron” eight lines earlier.

5. The indentation of this line is strange. Normally, an indent would indicate the beginning of a new verse paragraph, but the octavo printing fails to include an extra line space—the other indicator of verse paragraphs—and the quarto puts this line at the top of a page, making a line space impossible.

6. Edward Young was a minister in the Church of England.

7. The oak tree. See The Iliad, Book XIV, as rendered by one of Jones’s favorite authors, Alexander Pope: “As when the Bolt, red-hissing from above, / Darts on the consecrated Plant of Jove, / The Mountain-Oak in flaming Ruin lies, / Black from the Blow, and Smoaks of Sulphur rise” (481-84). [Google Books]

8. Jones appears to be overturning Young’s penchant to strike, “again, again,” the phrase “the thought of death” : “Dost ask Lorenzo, why so warmly prest, / By Repetition hammer’d on thine Ear, / The Thought of Death?” (Night Thoughts V.682-84 in Cornford's 1989 edition). [See also Google Books]

9. Here, one may wonder whether Jones, intentionally or not, is misreading Young. While some graveyard poets did wallow in the terror of death, Young’s purpose in Night Thoughts is precisely to render death less fearsome.