XXXII. Against Despair Christopher Smart
1771
HYMN XXXII.
Against DESPAIR.
OLD RALPH in the WOOD.
A raven once an Acorn took
From Bashan's tallest stoutest tree;[1]
He hid it by a limpid brook,
And liv'd another oak to see.
5 Thus Melancholy buries Hope,
Which Providence keeps still alive,
And bids us with afflictions cope,
And all anxiety survive.
Publ. 1771
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Notes
- ↑ 2. From Bashan's tallest stoutest tree... — the oaks of Bashan are mentioned in the Bible: Isaiah 2:13 and Ezekiel 27:6. In the publication in Gentleman's Magazine (Sept. 1779): From Romney's stoutest, tallest tree. Romney or the Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England.
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This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. |
