Quotes from work
The Grave
The Grave is a blank verse poem by the Scottish poet Robert Blair. It is the work for which he is primarily renowned. According to Blair, in a letter he wrote to Dr. Dodderidge, the greater part of the poem was composed before he became a minister, Edinburgh editor and publisher John Johnstone stating that it was composed whilst he was still a student, although "probably corrected and amplified by his more matured judgement". The poem, 767 lines long, is an exemplar of what became known as the school of graveyard poetry.Part of the poem's continued prominence in scholarship involves a later printing of poems by Robert Hartley Cromek which included illustrations completed by the Romantic poet and illustrator William Blake. He completed forty illustrations for the poem, twenty of which were printed in Cromek's edition. Blake's original watercolours for the prints were believed lost, until they were rediscovered in 2003.
“The Schoolboy, with his satchel in his hand,
Whistling aloud to bear his courage up.”
Part I, line 58. Compare: "Whistling to keep myself from being afraid", John Dryden, Amphitryon Act iii, scene 1.
The Grave (1743)
“Friendship! mysterious cement of the soul!
Sweetener of life! and solder of society!”
Part I, line 88.
The Grave (1743)
Part II, line 586. Compare: "Like angels’ visits, short and bright", John Norris, The Parting.
The Grave (1743)
“The common damn'd shun their society.”
Referring to suicides in Hell. Attributed to Lamb, but not found in his works.
The Grave (1743)
Part I, line 9.
The Grave (1743)
“The cup goes round:
And who so artful as to put it by!
'T is long since Death had the majority.”
Part II, line 449.
The Grave (1743)
