The Triumphs of Temper; A Poem. with New Original Designs, by M. Flaxman [Engr. by W. Blake]. (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1807 Excerpt: ... Muse, Which to this chequer'd world the Fates refuse For round its.precincts many an ugly sprite Speeds undiscern'd to poison pure delight; Amidst the foremost of this haggard band, Unwearied poster of the sea and land, Wrapt in dark mists malignant Scandal flies, While Envy's poison'd breath the buoyant gale supplies. Tho' Sheridan, with shafts of comic wit, Pierc'd, and expos'd her to the laughing pit, Th' immortal hag still wears her paper crown, The dreaded empress of the idle town: O'er leaping her prerogative of old, To sink the noble, to defame the bold;--In chase of worth to slip the dogs of strife Thro' all the ample range of public life;--The tyrant now, the sanctuary burst, Where happiness by privacy is nurst, Her fury rising as her powers increase, O'erturns the altars of domestic peace. Pleas'd in her dark and gall-distilling cloud, The sportive form of innocence to shroud, Beauty's young train her baleful eyes survey, To mark the fairest, as her favourite prey. Hence sweet Serena, while thy spirit stray'd Round the deep realms of subterranean shade, This keenest agent of th' infernal powers On earth was busied, in those tranquil hours, To blast thy peace, and poison'd darts to aim Against the honour of thy spotless name: For scandal, restless fiend, who never knows The balmy blessing of an hour's repose, Worn, yet unsated with her daily toil, Id her base work consumes the midnight oil. O'er fiercer fiends when heavy slumbers creep, When wearied avarice and ambition sleep, Scandal is vigilant, and keen to spread The plagues that spring from her prolific head. On truth's fair basis she her falsehood, builds, With tinsel sentiment its surface gilds; To nightly labour from their dark abodes The demons of the groaning press she goads, And smiles t..