Mourn, mourn, ye Muses, all your loss deplore,
The young, the noble Strephon is no more.
Yes, yes, he fled quick as departing light,
And ne’er shall rise from Death’s eternal night,
So rich a prize the Stygian gods ne’er bore,
Such wit, such beauty, never graced their shore.
These lines describe a sorrowful lament from the Muses, mourning the loss of a young and noble man named Strephon. He has passed away, never to return from the eternal darkness of death. The Muses express their deep sorrow, emphasizing that the gods of the underworld have never received such a remarkable treasure. Strephon is praised for his exceptional wit and beauty, qualities that have never before graced the shores of the Stygian realm. It’s a poetic expression of grief and admiration for the departed Strephon.
He was but lent this duller world t’ improve
In all the charms of poetry, and love;
Both were his gift, which freely he bestowed,
And like a god, dealt to the wond’ring crowd.
Scorning the little vanity of fame,
Spight of himself attained a glorious name.
But oh! in vain was all his peevish pride,
The sun as soon might his vast luster hide,
As piercing, pointed, and more lasting bright,
As suffering no vicissitudes of night.
These lines suggest that Strephon was given the gift of poetry and love to enhance the world with their charms. He freely shared these gifts with others, bestowing them upon the amazed crowd like a god. Strephon didn’t care about seeking fame for himself, yet he still achieved a glorious name. However, despite his pride, his accomplishments were in vain. His brilliance was like the sun, impossible to hide, and even more enduring and constant, never fading away like the darkness of night. It highlights Strephon’s remarkable talents and the lasting impact he made, regardless of his own personal desires or struggles.
Mourn, mourn, ye Muses, all your loss deplore,
The young, the noble Strephon is no more.
Now uninspired upon your banks we lie,
Unless when we would mourn his elegy;
His name’s a genius that would wit dispense,
And give the theme a soul, the words a sense.
But all fine thought that ravisht when it spoke,
These lines describe a lament from the Muses, urging them to mourn the loss of the young and noble Strephon. Without his inspiration, they lie uninspired on the riverbanks, except when they want to mourn his elegy. Strephon’s name is described as a genius that would bring wit and meaning to any topic, infusing the words with a sense of soul. However, all the beautiful thoughts that once captivated when spoken are now silenced by his absence. It emphasizes the profound impact Strephon had on the Muses and their ability to create meaningful and inspired poetry.
With the soft youth eternal leave has took;
Uncommon wit that did the soul o’ercome,
Is buried all in Strephon’s worshipped tomb;
Satire has lost its art, its sting is gone,
The Fop and Cully now may be undone;
That dear instructing rage is now allayed,
And no sharp pen dares tell ’em how they’ve strayed;
These lines emphasize the profound impact of Strephon’s passing. With his departure, the eternal youthfulness and uncommon wit that once captivated souls are now gone. Satire has lost its power and no longer carries its sharp sting. The foolish and ignorant individuals, known as the Fop and Cully, may now face their downfall without the guidance and admonishment that Strephon’s fierce criticism provided. The passionate and instructive rage that once exposed their errors and waywardness is now subdued, and no daring pen dares to confront and correct their misguided paths. It highlights the void left behind by Strephon’s absence and the loss of his powerful voice in the realm of satire and social critique.
Bold as a god was ev’ry lash he took,
But kind and gentle the chastizing stroke.
Mourn, mourn, ye youths, whom fortune has betrayed,
The last reproacher of your vice is dead.
Mourn, all ye beauties, put your Cyprus on,
The truest swain that e’re adored you’s gone;
Think how he loved, and writ, and sighed, and spoke,
These lines suggest that Strephon fearlessly endured every criticism like a god, yet his chastisement was kind and gentle. The speaker urges the youths who have been betrayed by fortune to mourn, as the last reproacher of their vices is now deceased. They call upon all the beauties to mourn as well, adorning themselves with the mourning veil of Cyprus. Strephon is described as the truest swain who ever adored them, and they are encouraged to reflect on his love, writings, sighs, and words. It highlights Strephon’s unique ability to both criticize and love, and the impact he had on those he reproached and adored.
Recall his mien, his fashion, and his look.
By what dear arts the soul he did surprise,
Soft as his voice, and charming as his eyes.
Bring garlands all of never-dying flowers,
Bedewed with everlasting falling showers;
Fix your fair eyes upon your victimed slave,
These lines suggest that the speaker is urging the readers to remember Strephon’s appearance, style, and gaze. They ask them to recall the dear arts through which he captivated souls, with a voice that was soft and eyes that were charming. The speaker requests the gathering of garlands made of everlasting flowers, dampened with eternal falling showers. They instruct the readers to fix their fair eyes upon Strephon, who is described as a victimized slave. It emphasizes the desire to cherish and remember Strephon’s captivating presence and the beauty he possessed.
Sent gay and young to his untimely grave.
See where the noble swain extended lies,
Too sad a triumph of your victories;
Adorned with all the graces Heaven e’er lent,
All that was great, soft, lovely, excellent
You’ve laid into his early monument.
Mourn, mourn, ye beauties, your sad loss deplore,
The young, the charming Strephon is no more.
These lines highlight the untimely demise of the noble swain, Strephon. The speaker laments the tragic result of the victories achieved, as they have led to the premature grave of someone who was gay and young. Strephon, adorned with heavenly graces and possessing greatness, softness, loveliness, and excellence, now lies in an early monument. The speaker calls upon the beauties to mourn and deeply lament their sad loss, as the young and charming Strephon is no more. It emphasizes the sorrowful loss of a remarkable individual and the impact of their absence on those who admired them.
Mourn, all ye little gods of love, whose darts
Have lost their wonted power of piercing hearts;
Lay by the gilded quiver and the bow,
The useless toys can do no mischief now,
Those eyes that all your arrows’ points inspired,
Those lights that gave ye fire are now retired,
Cold as his tomb, pale as your mother’s doves;
These lines suggest that the speaker is addressing the little gods of love, urging them to mourn. They remark that the gods’ arrows have lost their power to pierce hearts, and they should set aside their gilded quiver and bow, as these toys are now useless and incapable of causing mischief. The speaker describes how the eyes that used to inspire the arrows’ points and ignite the gods’ fire are now retired, with the individual being referred to as cold as a tomb and as pale as their mother’s doves. It highlights the loss of the person’s captivating presence and the impact it has had on the gods of love, rendering their once powerful arrows ineffective.
Bewail him then oh all ye little loves,
For you the humblest votary have lost
That ever your divinities could boast;
Upon your hands your weeping heads decline,
And let your wings encompass round his shrine;
In stead of flowers your broken arrows strow,
And at his feet lay the neglected bow.
Mourn, all ye little gods, your loss deplore,
The soft, the charming Strephon is no more.
These lines suggest that the speaker is once again urging the little gods of love to bewail and mourn. They emphasize that the humblest devotee that the gods could ever boast of has been lost. The speaker implores the gods to lower their weeping heads upon their hands and let their wings encircle his shrine. They suggest that instead of flowers, the gods should scatter their broken arrows and lay the neglected bow at his feet. The speaker calls upon the little gods to mourn and deeply deplore their loss, as the soft and charming Strephon is no more. It highlights the profound impact of Strephon’s absence on the gods of love, urging them to express their sorrow and pay tribute to his memory.
Large was his fame, but short his glorious race,
Like young Lucretius lived and died apace.
So early roses fade, so over all
They cast their fragrant scents, then softly fall,
While all the scattered perfumed leaves declare,
How lovely ’twas when whole, how sweet, how fair.
Had he been to the Roman Empire known,
When great Augustus filled the peaceful throne;
Had he the noble wond’rous poet seen,
These lines suggest that the speaker is reflecting on the fame and short-lived glory of someone, comparing them to the life and death of young Lucretius. They draw a parallel between the fading of early roses and the passing of this individual, emphasizing the beauty and sweetness that once existed. The speaker wonders what would have happened if this person had lived during the time of the Roman Empire, particularly when Augustus was in power, and had the opportunity to meet the great and marvelous poet. It highlights the fleeting nature of fame and the potential impact that could have been made if circumstances were different.
And known his genius, and surveyed his mien,
(When wits, and heroes graced divine abodes),
He had increased the number of their gods;
The royal judge had temples rear’d to’s name,
And made him as immortal as his fame;
In love and verse his Ovid he’ad out-done,
And all his laurels, and his Julia won.
Mourn, mourn, unhappy world, his loss deplore,
The great, the charming Strephon is no more.
These lines describe the potential impact that this person could have had if they were known for their genius and had the opportunity to be recognized by the wits and heroes of divine abodes. The speaker suggests that if this person had been acknowledged, they could have become a deity themselves, with temples erected in their honor. The royal judge would have immortalized their name and made them as eternal as their fame. The speaker compares this person’s achievements in love and verse to surpassing Ovid, and winning all the laurels and the heart of Julia. It emphasizes the lamentation and mourning for the loss of this great and charming individual, highlighting the potential greatness that was lost.
Summary of William Morris The Haystack in the Floods
Summary of Robert Southey My Days among the Dead are Past
