Section: «Poems»
Verse (ancient Greek ὁ στίχος — row, structure), a term in versification used in several meanings:
artistic speech organized by division into rhythmically commensurate segments; poetry in the narrow sense; in particular, it implies the properties of versification of a particular tradition ("antique verse", "Akhmatova's verse", etc.);
a line of poetic text organized according to a certain rhythmic pattern ("My uncle of the most honest rules").
To The Right Honourable Lady Charlotte Gordon
Why, Lady, wilt thou bind thy lovely browWith the dread semblance of that warlike helm,That nodding plume, and wreathe of various glow,That graced..
© James Beattie
Ode On Lord Hay's Birthday
A Muse, unskill'd in venal praise,Unstain'd with flattery's art;Who loves simplicity of laysBreathed ardent from the heart;While gratitude and joy..
© James Beattie
The Minstrel; Or, The Progress Of Genius : Book I.
I.Ah! who can tell how hard it is to climbThe steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar!Ah! who can tell how many a soul sublimeHath felt the..
© James Beattie
The Triumph Of Melancholy
1Memory, be still! why throng upon the thoughtThese scenes deep-stain'd with Sorrow's sable dye?Hast thou in store no joy-illumined draught,To cheer..
© James Beattie
An Epitaph
LIKE thee I once have stemm'd the sea of life,Like thee have languish'd after empty joys,Like thee have labour'd in the stormy strife,Been grieved..
© James Beattie
Epitaph On Two Young Men Of The Name Of Leitch, Who Were Drowned In Crossing The River Southesk
O thou! whose steps in sacred reverence treadThese lone dominions of the silent dead;On this sad stone a pious look bestow,Nor uninstructed read this..
© James Beattie
Epitaph [to This Grave Is Committed]
I was a friend, On this sad stone a pious look bestow,Nor uninstructed read this tale of woe;And while the sigh of sorrow heaves thy breast,Let each..
© James Beattie
Pygmaeo-Gerano-Machia: The Battle Of The Pygmies And Cranes
From the Latin of Addison.The pygmy-people, and the feather'd train,Mingling in mortal combat on the plain,I sing. Ye Muses, favour my designs,Lead..
© James Beattie
Ode To Hope
I. 1.O Thou, who glad'st the pensive soul,More than Aurora's smile the swain forlorn,Left all night long to mournWhere desolation frowns, and..
© James Beattie
The Judgment Of Paris
1Far in the depth of Ida's inmost grove,A scene for love and solitude design'd;Where flowery woodbines wild, by Nature wove,Form'd the lone bower..
© James Beattie
The Minstrel; Or, The Progress Of Genius (Excerpts)
THE FIRST BOOK (excerpts)Ah! who can tell how hard it is to climbThe steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar!Ah! who can tell how many a soul..
© James Beattie
Ode To Peace
I. 1.Peace, heaven-descended maid! whose powerful voiceFrom ancient darkness call'd the morn;And hush'd of jarring elements the noise,When Chaos..
© James Beattie
Elegy
1Tired with the busy crowds, that all the dayImpatient throng where Folly's altars flame,My languid powers dissolve with quick decay,Till genial..
© James Beattie
The Minstrel ; Or, The Progress Of Genius - Book Ii.
I.Of chance or change O let not man complain,Else shall he never never cease to wail:For, from the imperial dome, to where the swainRears the lone..
© James Beattie
The Hermit
At the close of day, when the hamlet is still,And mortals the sweets of forgetfulness prove,When nought but the torrent is heard on the hill,And..
© James Beattie
Epitaph, Intended For Himself
1Escaped the gloom of mortal life, a soulHere leaves its mouldering tenement of clay,Safe where no cares their whelming billows roll,No doubts..
© James Beattie
Elegy, Written In The Year 1758
Still, shall unthinking man substantial deemThe forms that fleet through life's deceitful dream?On clouds, where Fancy's beam amusive plays,Shall..
© James Beattie
Nature
O how canst thou renounce the boundless storeOf charms which Nature to her votary yields!The warbling woodland, the resounding shore,The pomp of..
© James Beattie
Epitaph: Being Part Of An Inscription For A Monument
Farewell, my best-beloved; whose heavenly mindGenius with virtue, strength with softness join'd;Devotion, undebased by pride or art,With meek..
© James Beattie
Life And Immortality
'O ye wild groves, oh, where is now your bloom!'(The muse interprets thus his tender thought)Your flowers, your verdure, and your balmy gloom,Of late..
© James Beattie
Hope Beyond The Grave
'Tis night, and the landscape is lovely no more;I mourn, but, ye woodlands, I mourn not for you;For morn is approaching, your charms to..
© James Beattie
The Hares, A Fable.
Yes, yes, I grant the sons of earthAre doom'd to trouble from their birth.We all of sorrow have our share;But say, is yours without compare?Look..
© James Beattie
Song, In Imitation Of Shakspeare's
1Blow, blow, thou vernal gale!Thy balm will not availTo ease my aching breast;Though thou the billows smooth,Thy murmurs cannot sootheMy weary soul..
© James Beattie
Law
Laws, as we read in ancient sages,Have been like cobwebs in all ages.Cobwebs for little flies are spread,And laws for little folks are made;But if an..
© James Beattie
Elegy (Tir'D With The Busy Crouds)
Tir'd with the busy crouds, that all the dayImpatient throng where Folly's altars flame,My languid powers dissolve with quick decay,Till genial Sleep..
© James Beattie