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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:
'O treacherous conscience! while she seems to sleep" (Page 27)
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 12 3/4 inches (41.9 x 32.4 cm), Plate: 16 1/8 x 12 5/8 inches (41 x 32.1 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:
B1992.8.10(17)
Classification:
Prints
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Subject Terms:
angel | book | cup | drinking | food | goblet | gown | literary theme | men | religious and mythological subject | robe | text | wings | women | writing (processes)
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:3545
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