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 

• Sonet 42 by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Sonet 41 by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Sonet 4 by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Sonet 39 by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Sonet 38 by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Sonet 36 by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Sonet 35 by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Sonet 34 by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Sonet 33 by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Sonet 32 by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Jonathan: The First Booke by William Alexander by William Alexander
• IX: Some Verses: This Day Design’d To Spoil The World of Peace by William Alexander by William Alexander
• IV: Some Verses: To The Author by William Alexander by William Alexander
• III: Some Verses: To M. Michaell Drayton by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Elegie IV: On The Death of Prince Henrie by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Doomes-Day: The Twelfth Houre by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Doomes-Day: The Third Houre by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Doomes-Day: The Tenth Houre by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Doomes-Day: The Sixth Houre by William Alexander by William Alexander
• Doomes-Day: The Ninth Houre by William Alexander by William Alexander

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