Quote#Time
But how is Mneme dreaded by the race
Quote byPhillis Wheatley · 1753–1784
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: "On Recollection" st. 2 lines 7-12, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773).
English (original)
But how is Mneme dreaded by the race, Who scorn her warnings and despise her grace? By her unveil'd each horrid crime appears, Her awful hand a cup of wormwood bears. Days, years mispent, O what a hell of woe! Hers the worst tortures that our souls can know.
— Phillis Wheatley
More from Phillis Wheatley
Celestial choir! enthron'd in realms of light, Columbia's scenes of glorious toils I write. While freedom's cause her anxious breast alarms, She flashes dreadful in refulgent arms.
But, Madam, let your grief be laid aside, And let the fountain of your tears be dry'd, In vain they flow to wet the dusty plain, Your sighs are wafted to the skies in vain, Your pains they witness, but they can no more, While Death reigns …
When first thy pencil did these beaties give And breathing figures learnt from thee to live
Creation smiles in various beauty gay While day to night, and night succeeds day
Some view our sable race with scornful eye, "Their colour is a diabolic die." Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain, May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.
See mother earth her offspring's fate bemoan, And nations gaze at scenes before unknown! See the bright beams of heaven's revolving light Involved in sorrows and the veil of night! The goddess comes, she moves divinely fair,