The Poetical Works of Thomas Chatterton: With an Essay on the Rowley Poems, Volume 1G. Bell, 1875 - Literary forgeries and mystifications |
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Page 263 - God, whose thunder shakes the sky, Whose eye this atom globe surveys ; To Thee, my only rock, I fly, Thy mercy in thy justice praise. The mystic mazes of thy will, The shadows of celestial light, Are past the power of human skill — But what the Eternal acts is right...
Page 339 - The poverty of authors is a common observation, but not always a true one. No author can be poor who understands the arts of booksellers ; without this necessary knowledge the greatest genius may starve, and with it the greatest dunce live in splendour. This knowledge I have pretty well dipped into.
Page lxxxiii - This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Chatterton, of the city of Bristol; being sound in body, or it is the fault of my last surgeon; the soundness of my mind, the Coroner and Jury are to be judges of, desiring them to take notice, that the most perfect Masters of Human Nature in Bristol distinguish me by the title of the Mad Genius...
Page 265 - ... thy justice fear ! If in this bosom aught but Thee Encroaching sought a boundless sway, Omniscience could the danger see, And Mercy look the cause away. Then, why, my soul, dost thou complain ? Why drooping seek the dark recess ? Shake off the melancholy chain, For God created all to bless. But ah ! my breast is human still; The rising sigh, the falling tear, My languid vitals' feeble rill, The sickness of my soul declare.
Page 255 - Oh, how oft shall he On faith and changed gods complain, and seas Rough with black winds and storms Unwonted shall admire, Who now enjoys thee credulous...
Page 374 - Tis immortality deciphers man, And opens all the mysteries of his make : Without it, half his instincts are a riddle ; Without it, all his virtues are a dream...
Page lxii - SIR, — I take this method to acquaint you that I can procure copies of several ancient poems ; and an interlude, perhaps the oldest dramatic piece extant...
Page 271 - Farr, Esq., and Mr. John Flower, at their joint expense, cause my body to be interred in the tomb of my fathers, and raise the monument over my body to the height of four feet five inches, placing the present flat stone on the top, and adding six tablets.
Page 272 - To the memory of Thomas Chatterton. Reader, judge not if thou art a Christian, believe that he shall be judged by a superior Power. To that Power alone is he now answerable.
Page lxxxvii - But the Devil of the matter is, there is no money to be got on this side of the question. Interest is on the other side. But he is a poor author who cannot write on both sides.