The poetical works of Mark Akenside.

  • Mark Akenside
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The poetical works of Mark Akenside. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    408/418 page 306
    Raise me above the vulgar’s breath, Pursuit of fortune, fear of death, And all in life that’s mean: Still true to reason be my plan, Still let my actions speak the man, Through every various scene. Hail! queen of manners, light of truth; Ilail! charm of age, and guide of youth; Sweet refuge of distress : In business, thou, exact, polite ; Thou giv’st retirement its delight, Prosperity its grace. Of wealth, power, freedom, thou the cause; Foundress of order, cities, laws ; Of arts inventress thou: Without thee, what were human-kind? How vast their wants, their thoughts how blind! Their joys how mean, how few! Sun of the soul! thy beams unveil: Let others spread the daring sail, On Fortune’s faithless sea: While, undeluded, happier I From the vain tumult timely fly, And sit in peace with thee. LOVE,* AN ELEGY. 00 much my heart of beauty’s power hath known, Too long to Love hath reason left her throne; * Printed about 1740 for private distribution, and first published in The Neiv Foundling Hospital of Wit, vol. vi. p. 23. edit. 1773.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3