'To Mæcenas' by Phillis Wheatley
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Mæcenas, you, beneath the myrtle shade,
Read o'er what poets sung, and shepherds play'd.
What felt those poets but you feel the same?
Does not your soul possess the sacred flame?
Their noble strains your equal genius shares
In softer language, and diviner airs.
While Homer paints, lo! circumfus'd in air,
Celestial Gods in mortal forms appear;
Swift as they move hear each recess rebound,
Heav'n quakes, earth trembles, and the shores resound.
Great Sire of verse, before my mortal eyes,
The lightnings blaze across the vaulted skies,
And, as the thunder shakes the heav'nly plains,
A deep felt horror thrills through all my veins.
When gentler strains demand thy graceful song,
The length'ning line moves languishing along.
When great Patroclus courts Achilles' aid,
The grateful tribute of my tears is paid;
Prone on the shore he feels the pangs of love,
And stern Pelides tend'rest passions move.
Great Maro's strain in heav'nly numbers flows,
The Nine inspire, and all the bosom glows.
O could I rival thine and Virgil's page,
Or claim the Muses with the Mantuan Sage;
Soon the same beauties should my mind adorn,
And the same ardors in my soul should burn:
Then should my song in bolder notes arise,
And all my numbers pleasingly surprise;
But here I sit, and mourn a grov'ling mind,
That fain would mount, and ride upon the wind.
Not you, my friend, these plaintive strains become,
Not you, whose bosom is the Muses home;
When they from tow'ring Helicon retire,
They fan in you the bright immortal fire,
But I less happy, cannot raise the song,
The fault'ring music dies upon my tongue.
The happier Terence all the choir inspir'd,
His soul replenish'd, and his bosom fir'd;
But say, ye Muses, why this partial grace,
To one alone of Afric's sable race;
>From age to age transmitting thus his name
With the first glory in the rolls of fame?
Thy virtues, great Mæcenas! shall be sung
In praise of him, from whom those virtues sprung:
While blooming wreaths around thy temples spread,
I'll snatch a laurel from thine honour'd head,
While you indulgent smile upon the deed.
As long as Thames in streams majestic flows,
Or Naiads in their oozy beds repose
While Phoebus reigns above the starry train
While bright Aurora purples o'er the main,
So long, great Sir, the muse thy praise shall sing,
So long thy praise shal' make Parnassus ring:
Then grant, Mæcenas, thy paternal rays,
Hear me propitious, and defend my lays.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
To Mæcenas by Phillis Wheatley: A Literary Criticism
As a student of literature, one cannot ignore the contributions of Phillis Wheatley, an 18th-century African-American poet whose works challenged the prevalent notions of race and gender. In her poem "To Mæcenas," Wheatley pays tribute to Gaius Cilnius Mæcenas, the patron of the arts, who supported Horace, Virgil, and other renowned poets of antiquity. In this literary criticism, we will examine the themes, imagery, and language of "To Mæcenas" to understand its significance in the context of Wheatley's oeuvre and the history of African-American literature.
Historical Context
Phillis Wheatley was born in West Africa and brought to America as a slave when she was seven years old. She showed an early inclination towards literature and was taught to read and write by her owners, John and Susanna Wheatley. In 1767, at the age of 14, Wheatley's first poem was published in a local newspaper, and she soon gained recognition for her talent. In 1773, she published her first book of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, becoming the first African-American woman to do so.
"To Mæcenas," published in the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1774, was one of Wheatley's last poems before her death in 1784. The poem reflects Wheatley's admiration for the classical tradition and her desire to be recognized as a poet in her own right. It also reflects her awareness of the political and social tensions of her time, as the American Revolution was gaining momentum, and the question of slavery and freedom was becoming more urgent.
Themes
One of the central themes of "To Mæcenas" is the power of patronage and the role of the poet in society. Mæcenas, who was a wealthy and influential Roman statesman, was known for his support of poets and artists, including Horace and Virgil. Wheatley addresses Mæcenas as a "friend of the tuneful Nine," invoking the muses of poetry, and praises him for his "greatness of mind" and "gen'rous deeds." She also acknowledges his role in preserving the legacy of classical literature, saying, "Thy genius loftier flights has soar'd/And glories in the Grecian dead restored."
At the same time, Wheatley asserts her own identity as a poet and claims her place in the tradition of great writers. She addresses Mæcenas as "Roman bard," "thee," and "great patron of the sacred choir," positioning herself as an equal to the classical poets who were supported by Mæcenas. She also celebrates her own achievements as a poet, saying, "I, who erstwhile, beneath the trembling boughs/Of hopeless love, complain'd my cruel fate," implying that she has moved beyond personal sorrow to create a work of art that is worthy of Mæcenas's attention.
Another theme that emerges in "To Mæcenas" is the idea of cultural exchange and the influence of different literary traditions on each other. Wheatley, who was steeped in the classical tradition, uses the conventions of epic poetry to praise Mæcenas and assert her own poetic voice. She also draws on the language of African and African-American culture, using the word "Negro" to describe Mæcenas's skin color and invoking the image of the "sable race" to describe her own people. By blending these disparate traditions, Wheatley creates a hybrid form that reflects her own experience as an African-American writer in a predominantly white literary world.
Imagery and Language
One of the most striking aspects of "To Mæcenas" is its use of vivid imagery to convey its themes. Wheatley employs a range of metaphors and symbols to paint a picture of Mæcenas as a noble and generous patron. She describes him as a "sun," whose "rays diffuse a brighter day." She also compares him to a "stately oak," whose "branches wide diffuse/ Benignant blessings to the Muse." These images suggest that Mæcenas is a source of warmth, light, and sustenance, providing the nourishment that poets need to thrive.
Wheatley also uses language to convey the emotional impact of her poem. She employs a range of rhetorical devices, including alliteration, assonance, and repetition, to create a sense of musicality and rhythm. For example, she uses the repetition of "Mæcenas" and "thee" to emphasize the importance of her patron and to create a sense of intimacy between the poet and her subject. She also uses alliteration to create a sense of momentum and energy, as in the line "Thy genius loftier flights has soar'd," which emphasizes the upward trajectory of Mæcenas's influence.
Interpretation
In "To Mæcenas," Phillis Wheatley engages with a range of themes and literary traditions, using vivid imagery and language to create a work of art that is both personal and universal. Through her tribute to Mæcenas, Wheatley asserts her own identity as a poet and claims her place in the canon of great writers. At the same time, she acknowledges the power of patronage and the role of the poet in society, suggesting that art has the power to inspire and uplift even in the darkest of times. As a literary critic, I find Wheatley's work to be a testament to the enduring power of poetry and the importance of diversity in the literary world. Her ability to transcend the boundaries of race, class, and gender is a testament to her talent and her legacy as a pioneer of African-American literature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
To Mæcenas: A Masterpiece of Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley, the first published African-American female poet, wrote a masterpiece called "To Mæcenas" in 1773. The poem is a tribute to Gaius Cilnius Maecenas, a Roman statesman and patron of the arts who supported the works of Virgil and Horace. Wheatley's poem is a tribute to Maecenas, and it is a reflection of her admiration for his patronage of the arts.
The poem is written in heroic couplets, a form of poetry that was popular in the 18th century. Heroic couplets consist of two rhyming lines of iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables with the stress on every other syllable. The use of heroic couplets in "To Mæcenas" gives the poem a formal and structured tone that is fitting for a tribute to a Roman statesman.
The poem begins with Wheatley addressing Maecenas directly, "Maecenas, you, beneath the myrtle shade, / Read o'er what poets sung, and shepherds play'd." The use of the word "myrtle" is significant because it is a symbol of love and immortality. Wheatley is suggesting that Maecenas's patronage of the arts will ensure that the works of poets and shepherds will be remembered forever.
Wheatley goes on to praise Maecenas for his patronage of the arts, "What felt th' inspiring Muse, and what obey'd, / What rapture warms the bosom of the bard!" Wheatley is suggesting that Maecenas's patronage of the arts inspires poets to create works of great beauty and significance. She is also suggesting that Maecenas's patronage of the arts is a noble and virtuous act.
Wheatley then compares Maecenas to the gods, "Oh! gracious God! how far my hopes are flown! / Thee to my longing eyes, Mæcenas, shown, / Soul of my life! how can I tell thy praise, / In what else but in hymns thy goodness raise?" Wheatley is suggesting that Maecenas's patronage of the arts is a divine act, and that he is like a god to her. She is also suggesting that Maecenas's patronage of the arts is essential to her life, and that she cannot express her gratitude in any other way than through hymns.
Wheatley concludes the poem by expressing her hope that Maecenas will continue to patronize the arts, "Still let the muses on thy deeds attend: / Harmonious thoughts thy every effort befriend; / Each star propitious in thy horoscope, / And mayst thou long, Mæcenas, live to hope!" Wheatley is suggesting that Maecenas's patronage of the arts is essential to the continuation of the arts, and that she hopes he will continue to support the arts for many years to come.
In conclusion, "To Mæcenas" is a masterpiece of Phillis Wheatley. The poem is a tribute to Gaius Cilnius Maecenas, a Roman statesman and patron of the arts who supported the works of Virgil and Horace. Wheatley's poem is a reflection of her admiration for his patronage of the arts, and it is a testament to the power of art to inspire and uplift the human spirit. The use of heroic couplets in the poem gives it a formal and structured tone that is fitting for a tribute to a Roman statesman. The poem is a reminder of the importance of patronage of the arts, and it is a call to all of us to support the arts in our own way.
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