In Imitation of E. of Rochester : On Silence poem – Alexander Pope

A poem by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) , the greatest English poet of “Augustan” or Georgian period

I.

Silence! coeval with Eternity;

Thou wert, ere Nature’s-self began to be,

‘Twas one vast Nothing, all, and all slept fast in thee.

II.

Thine was the sway, ere heav’n was form’d, or earth,

Ere fruitful Thought conceiv’d creation’s birth,

Or midwife Word gave aid, and spoke the infant forth.

III.

Then various elements, against thee join’d,

In one more various animal combin’d,

And fam’d the clam’rous race of busy Human-kind.

IV.

The tongue mov’d gently first, and speech was low,

‘Till wrangling Science taught it noise and show,

And wicked Wit arose, thy most abusive foe.

V.

But rebel Wit deserts thee oft’ in vain;

Lost in the maze of words he turns again,

And seeks a surer state, and courts thy gentle reign.

VI.

Afflicted Sense thou kindly dost set free,

Oppress’d with argumental tyranny,

And routed Reason finds a safe retreat in thee.

VII.

With thee in private modest Dulness lies,

And in thy bosom lurks in Thought’s disguise;

Thou varnisher of Fools, and cheat of all the Wise!

VIII.

Yet thy indulgence is by both confest;

Folly by thee lies sleeping in the breast,

And ’tis in thee at last that Wisdom seeks for rest.

IX.

Silence the knave’s repute, the whore’s good name,

The only honour of the wishing dame;

Thy very want of tongue makes thee a kind of Fame.

X.

But could’st thou seize some tongues that now are free,

How Church and State should be oblig’d to thee!

At Senate, and at Bar, how welcome would’st thou be!

XI.

Yet speech ev’n there, submissively withdraws,

From rights of subjects, and the poor man’s cause:

Then pompous Silence reigns, and stills the noisy Laws.

XII.

Past services of friends, good deeds of foes,

What Fav’rites gain, and what the Nation owes,

Fly the forgetful world, and in thy arms repose.

XIII.

The country wit, religion of the town,

The courtier’s learning, policy o’ th’ gown,

Are best by thee express’d; and shine in thee alone.

XIV.

The parson’s cant, the lawyer’s sophistry,

Lord’s quibble, critic’s jest; all end in thee,

All rest in peace at last, and sleep eternally.

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Poems in English 

• The Leaden Echo And The Golden Echo poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• The Lantern Out Of Doors poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• The Handsome Heart poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• The Half-way House poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• The Habit Of Perfection poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• The Furl of Fresh-Leaved Dogrose Down poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• The Child Is Father To The Man poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• The Candle Indoors poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• The Caged Skylark poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• The Bugler’s First Communion poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• The Blessed Virgin Compared To The Air We Breathe poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• The Alchemist in the City poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• That Nature Is A Heraclitean Fire And Of The Comfort Of The Resurrection poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• Summa poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• Strike, Churl poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• St. Winefred’s Well poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• St. Alphonsus Rodriguez poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• Spring & Fall: To A Young Child poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• Spring poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins
• Spelt From Sibyl’s Leaves poem – Gerard Manley Hopkins poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins

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