Mark Akenside

Mark Akenside (November 9, 1721 – June 23, 1770) was an English poet and physician.

Quotes

 * Youth calls for Pleasure, Pleasure calls for Love.
 * "Love, An Elegy", line 90

And eagerly pursues imaginary joys.
 * Seeks painted trifles and fantastic toys,
 * The Virtuoso (1737), stanza x, lines 89–90

Walks forth from darkness; and the God of day, With bright Astraea seated by his side, Waits yet to leave the ocean.
 * O'er yonder eastern hill the twilight pale
 * Hymn to the Naiads (1746), lines 1–4

Epistle to Curio (1744)
And know the mortal through a crown's disguise.
 * The man forget not, though in rags he lies,
 * Lines 197–198

Where truth and freedom from the heart are fled? Can lesser wheels repeat their native stroke, When the prime function of the soul is broke?
 * Can art, alas! or genius guide the head
 * Lines 265–268

The Pleasures of the Imagination (1744)

 * Pall on her temper, like a twice-told tale.
 * Book I, line 220

In all the dewy landscapes of the spring, In the bright eye of Hesper or the morn, In nature's fairest forms, is aught so fair As virtuous friendship? as the candid blush Of him who strives with fortune to be just? The graceful tear that streams for others' woes? Or the mild majesty of private life, Where peace with ever blooming olive crowns The gate; where Honour's liberal hands effuse Unenvied treasures, and the snowy wings Of Innocence and Love protect the scene?
 * Is aught so fair
 * Book I, line 500–511

More welcome touch his understanding's eye Than all the blandishments of sound his ear, Than all of taste his tongue.
 * Man loves knowledge, and the beams of truth
 * Book II, lines 100–103

From morn to eve have stolen unmark'd away, While mute attention hung upon his lips.
 * Oft the hours
 * Book II, lines 183–185

Why the cold urn of her whom long he loved So often fills his arms; so often draws His lonely footsteps at the silent hour To pay the mournful tribute of his tears? Oh! he will tell thee that the wealth of worlds Should ne'er seduce his bosom to forego That sacred hour, when, stealing from the noise Of care and envy, sweet remembrance soothes With virtue's kindest looks his aching breast, And turns his tears to rapture.
 * Ask the faithful youth
 * Book II, lines 683–693

With holy ensigns, how sublime they move, And bending oft their sanctimonious eyes Take homage of the simple-minded throng; Ambassadors of heaven!
 * Others of graver mien; behold, adorn'd
 * Book III, lines 109–113

The dull engagements of the bustling world! Adieu the sick impertinence of praise! And hope, and action! for with her alone, By streams and shades, to steal these sighing hours, Is all he asks, and all that fate can give!
 * Adieu, for him,
 * Book III, lines 173–178


 * Such and so various are the tastes of men!
 * Book III, line 567

Odes on Several Subjects (1745)
Has some peculiar blessing given To each allotted state below.
 * The Providence of heaven
 * Book I, Ode II, No. 1: "For the Winter Solstice", stanza v, lines 48–50

With good the progeny of ill, Attempreth every state below.
 * Heaven's all-subduing will,
 * Book I, Ode II, No. 2: "On the Winter Solstice", stanza vi, lines 58–60

And Tully's curule chair, and Milton's golden lyre.
 * Than Timoleon's arms require,
 * Book I, Ode XVII: "On a Sermon against Glory", stanza ii, lines 17–18


 * Rustic herald of the spring.
 * Book II, Ode III: "To the Cuckoo", stanza i, line 1