Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0007204, Tue, 3 Dec 2002 09:11:02 -0800

Subject
Fw: Flatman's poem Pale Fire
Date
Body
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Brown" <as-brown@comcast.net>
> ----------------- Message requiring your approval (73
lines) ------------------
> I'm glad you found this but sorry I forgot the index reference since it's
an
> important part of it. Kinbote has thrown out the Flatman reference and
> Hurley, the old fraud, has missed it. I hope you have seen the post I
> replied to a few minutes ago in which you cited Dinesin and Dosteoyvski.
>
> The poem is all about mortality and the illusion of death, which is what
all
> of Pale Fire is about. If you see nothing in it, then I cannot understand
> what you see in PF.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "D. Barton Johnson" <chtodel@cox.net>
> To: <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
> Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 6:46 PM
> Subject: Fw: Flatman's poem
>
>
> > EDNOTE. Flat appears in PALE FIRE. See Index: Flatman, Thomas. 1637-8,
> > English poet, scholar and miniaturist, not known to old fraud, 894
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Carolyn Kunin" <chaiselongue@earthlink.net>
> > > ----------------- Message requiring your approval (46
> > lines) ------------------
> > > Thanks to Mr Stephen Leary I have before me the poem referred to by Mr
> > > Brown. I don't find anything here, but for the interest of the list,
> > here's
> > > the poem:
> > >
> > > A THOUGHT OF DEATH
> > >
> > > by THOMAS FLATMAN
> > >
> > > Subject: DEATH
> > > Poem Date: 1682
> > > Timeline: 17TH CENTURY
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > --
> > > ----
> > >
> > > WHEN on my sick bed I languish,
> > > Full of sorrow, full of anguish,
> > > Fainting, gasping, trembling, crying,
> > > Panting, groaning, speechless, dying,
> > > My soul just now about to take her flight
> > > Into the regions of eternal night;
> > > Oh tell me you,
> > > That have been long below,
> > > What shall I do!
> > > What shall I think, when cruel Death appears,
> > > That may extenuate my fears!
> > > Methinks I hear some gentle Spirit say,
> > > Be not fearful, come away!
> > > Think with thyself that now thou shalt be free,
> > > And find thy long-expected liberty;
> > > Better thou mayst, but worse thou canst not be
> > > Than in this vale of tears and misery.
> > > Like Caesar, with assurance then come on,
> > > And unamaz'd attempt the laurel crown,
> > > That lies on th' other side Death's Rubicon.
> > >
> > >
> > > Reference: CRANE, RONALD S. (ED.) -
> > > COLLECTION OF ENGLISH POEMS, 1660-1800.
> > > PAGE 190
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>