The Irish Poet and the Natural World: An Anthology of Verse in English from the Tudors to the Romantics

Nahum Tate (1652–1696–1715)

123 NAHUM TATE (1652 – 1696–1715) Nahum Tate, the son of the poet Faithfull Teate, was born in Dublin. He changed his name from Teate to Tate when he was at Trinity College, from which he graduated in 1672. He later moved to London where he knew all the literary figures of the day and collaborated with Dryden on the second part of Absalom and Achitophel (1682). Tate made a living as a poet and dramatist and became Poet Laureate in 1692. In an interesting and underrated collection of poems, Miscellanea Sacra: or, Poems on Divine & Moral Subjects Vol I, Tate explores religious themes with sensitivity and skill. In the poem below, he draws sobering conclusions about mortality from his contemplation of a human skeleton, inviting the reader to admire, with him, ‘Nature’s Skill’in the construction of the living human body of which the skeleton is a bare reminder. Upon the Sight of an Anatomy1 1 Nay, start not at that Skeleton, ’Tis your own Picture which you shun; Alive it did resemble Thee, And thou, when dead, like that shalt be: Converse with it, and you will say, You cannot better spend the Day; You little think how you’ll admire The Language of those Bones and Wire. 2 The Tongue is gone, but yet each Joint Reads Lectures, and can speak to th’Point. 10 When all your Moralists are read, You’ll find no Tutors like the Dead. 3 If in Truth’s Paths those Feet have trod, ’Tis all one whether, bare or shod: If us’d to travel to the Door Of the Afflicted Sick and Poor, A human skeleton with the bones wired together – used for anatomy classes in medical 1 schools. 124 Though to the Dance they were estrang’d, And ne’er their own rude Motion chang’d;2 Those Feet, now wing’d, may upwards fly, And tread the Palace of the Sky. 20 4 Those Hands, if ne’er with Murther stain’d, Nor fill’d with Wealth unjustly gain’d, Nor greedily at Honours graspt, But to the Poor-Man’s Cry unclaspt; It matters not, if in the Myne They delv’d, or did with Rubies shine. 5 Here grew the Lips, and in that Place, Where now appears a vacant space, Was fix’d the Tongue, an Organ, still Employ’d extreamly well or ill; 30 I know not if it cou’d retort, If vers’d i’th’Language of the Court; But this I safely can aver, That if it was no Flatterer; If it traduc’d no Man’s Repute,3 But, where it cou’d not Praise, was Mute: If no false Promises it made, If it sung Anthems, if it Pray’d, ’Twas a blest Tongue, and will prevail When Wit and Eloquence shall fail. 40 6 If Wise as Socrates, that Skull, Had ever been, ’tis now as dull As Mydas’s;4 or if its Wit To that of Mydas did submit ’Tis now as full of Plot and Skill, i.e. even if they were never accustomed to dancing, and never moved elegantly. 2 i.e. if it did not slander anyone. 3 Socrates was famed for his wisdom, Midas for his stupid request that everything he 4 touched might be turned to gold, and Machiavelli for his political scheming. 125 Nahum Tate As is the Head of Matchiavel: Proud Laurels once might shade that Brow, Where not so much as Hair grows now. 7 Prime Instances of Nature’s Skill, The Eyes, did once those Hollows fill: 50 Were they quick-sighted, sparkling, clear, (As those of Hawks and Eagles are,) Or say they did with Moisture swim, And were distorted, blear’d, and dim; Yet if they were from Envy free, Nor lov’d to gaze on Vanity; If none with scorn they did behold, With no lascivious Glances rowl’d: Those Eyes, more bright and piercing grown, Shall view the Great Creator’s Throne; 60 They shall behold th’Invisible, And on Eternal Glories dwell. 8 See! not the least Remains appear To shew where Nature plac’d the Ear! Who knows if it were Musical, Or could not judge of Sounds at all? Yet if it were to Council bent,5 To Caution and Reproof attent, When the shrill Trump shall rouse the Dead, And others hear their Sentence read; 70 That...