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 

• Вероника Тушнова – Кто-то в проруби тонет by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Костер by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Звезда by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Знаешь ли ты, что такое горе by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Зеркало by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Яблоки by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Я стою у открытой двери by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Я поняла, ты не хотел мне зла by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Я поднимаюсь по колючим склонам by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Я одна тебя любить умею by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – В чем отказала я тебе by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Утро (Вся ночь без сна) by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – У всех бывают слабости минуты by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – У каждого есть в жизни хоть одно, by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Ты все еще тревожишься — что будет by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Ты не любишь считать облака by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Ты любил, и я тебя любила by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Твои глаза by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Тропа, петляя и пыля by Вероника Тушнова
• Вероника Тушнова – Тень by Вероника Тушнова

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