Yale Center for British Art

Creator:
Print made by William Blake, 1757–1827, British

Hand colored by William Blake, 1757–1827, British

Text by Edward Young, 1683–1765, British

Published by Richard Edwards, active 1796–1797, British
Title:
'O treacherous conscience!' (Page 27)
Date:
ca. 1797
Materials & Techniques:
Etching, line engraving, and letterpress, with hand coloring in watercolor on moderately thick, slightly textured, cream wove paper
Dimensions:
Spine: 16 3/4 inches (42.5 cm)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:
Lettered inside image: "27 | And then, where are we? where, LORENZO, then | Thy sports--thy pomps?--I grant thee, in a state | Not unambitious; in the ruffled shroud, | Thy parian tomb's triumphant arch beneath: | Has death his fopperies? then well may life | Put on her plume, and in her rainbow shine. | Ye well-array'd! ye lilies of our land! | Ye lilies male! who neither toil, nor spin, | As sister lilies might;--if not so wise | As Solomon, more sumptuous to the sight! | Ye delicate! who nothing can support, | Yourselves most insupportable! for whom | The winter rose must blow, the sun put on | A brighter beam in Leo, silky-soft | Favonius breathe still softer, or be chid; | And other worlds send odours, sauce, and song, | And robes, and notions framed in foreign looms! | O ye LORENZOS of our age! who deem | One moment unamused, a misery | Not made for feeble man; who call aloud | For every bauble, drivell'd o'er by sense, | For rattles and conceits of every cast, | For change of follies and relays of joy, | To drag your patience through the tedious length | Of a short winter's day--say--sages; say | Wit's oracles; say--dreamers of gay dreams; | How will you weather an eternal night, | Where such expedients fail? | *O treacherous conscience! while she seems to sleep | On rose and myrtle, lull'd with syren song;"; lower right: "inv & sc | WB"
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1978.43.1392
Classification:
Prints
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
writing (processes) | men | women | food | text | wings | gowns | robes | cups | goblets | books | literary theme | angels | drinking
Currently On View:
Not on view
Exhibition History:
The Romantic Print in the Age of Revolutions: Hero, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History (Yale Center for British Art, 2003-01-23 - 2003-06-01)
Link:
https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:2318