To Dives by Lord Byron (1819)
The poem is a meditation on the nature of wealth and happiness. It describes the life of Dives, a wealthy man who has accumulated great riches but lacks true fulfillment. The speaker contrasts Dives' empty materialism with the simple joys of a poor man who finds contentment in his humble circumstances.
By Lord Byron · First published 1819 · Genre: Poetry, Tragedy, Philosophical · 113 words
First lines
A Fragment
Unhappy Dives! in an evil hour‘ / Gainst Nature's voice seduced to deeds accurst! / Once Fortune's minion, now thou feel'st her power; / Wrath's vial on thy lofty head bath burst.
In Wit, in Genius, as in Wealth the first, / How wondrous bright thy blooming morn arose! / But thou went smitten with th' unhallow'd thirst / Of crime un-named, and thy sad noon must close / In scorn, and solitude unsought, the worst of woes.
What this Textopian page supports
To Dives is listed on Textopian as a poem by Lord Byron, dated 1819 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Lord Byron
- Date: 1819 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Tragedy, Philosophical, Satire
- Length: 113 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
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- Work identity for To Dives by Lord Byron
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured as a poem, utilizing verse and meter.
- Tragedy — The themes revolve around downfall and misfortune, characteristic of tragic narratives.
- Philosophical — Explores themes of fate, fortune, and moral consequence, common in philosophical literature.
- Satire — Contains elements of critique on wealth and moral corruption, typical of satirical works.
Tags
Epic · Poem · Narrative · Verse · Romance · Tragic · Love · Loss · Mortality · Philosophy · Existentialism · Critique