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Creator:
Print made by William Blake, 1757–1827
Hand colored by William Blake, 1757–1827
Text by Edward Young, 1683–1765
Published by Richard Edwards, active 1796–1797
Title:
'Teaching, we learn; and giving, we retain' (Page 35)
Part Of:

Collective Title: Young's Night Thoughts

Date:
1797
Materials & Techniques:
Etching, line engraving, and letterpress, with hand coloring in watercolor on moderately thick, slightly textured, cream wove paper
Dimensions:
Spine: 17 1/2 inches (44.5 cm), Sheet: 16 1/2 x 13 inches (41.9 x 33 cm), Plate: 16 x 12 3/4 inches (40.6 x 32.4 cm)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:

Lettered on facing page: "34 | In furrow'd brows: so gentle life's descent, | We shut our eyes, and think it is a plain. | We take fair days in winter for the spring; | And turn our blessings into bane: since oft | Man must compute that age he cannot feel, | He scarce believes he's older for his years: | Thus, at life's latest eve, we keep in store | One disappointment sure, to crown the rest-- | The disappointment of a promised hour. | On this, or similar, PHILANDER! thou, | Whose mind was moral, as the preacher's tongue; | And strong to wield all science, worth the name; | How often we talk'd down the summer's sun, | And cool'd our passions by the breezy stream! | How often thaw'd and shorten'd winter'd eve, | By conflict kind, that struck out latent truth, | Best found, so sought; to the recluse more coy! | Thoughts disentangle passing o'er the lip; | Clean runs the thread; if not, 'tis thrown away, | Or kept to tie up nonsense for a song-- | Song, fashionably fruitless! such as stains | The fancy, and unhallow'd passion fires; | Chiming her saints to Cytherea's fane. | Know'st thou, LORENZO! what a friend contains? | As bees mix'd nectar draw from fragrant flowers, | So men from friendship, wisdom and delight; | Twins tied by nature; if they part, they die. | Hast thou no friend to set thy mind abroach? | Good sense will stagnate: thoughts shut up, want air, | And spoil, like bales unopen'd to the sun."

Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1992.8.10(20)
Classification:
Prints
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
angels | beard | chair | children | clouds | leaf | literary theme | lyre | man | men | plants | religious and mythological subject | seated | sitting | text | throne | vines | women | women
Access:
Accessible by appointment in the Study Room [Request]
Note: The Study Room is open by appointment. Please visit the Study Room page on our website for more details.
Link:
https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:3549
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