Elizabeth Tollet

Elizabeth Tollet Poems

Elizabeth Tollet Biography

Elizabeth Tollet (1694—1754) was a British poet. Her surviving works are varied; she produced translations of classical themes, religious and philosophical poetry and poems arguing for better education for women. Unusually, for a woman of her time, her poetry also includes scientific imagery. She was the daughter of George Tollet who, observing her intelligence, gave her a thorough education in languages, history, poetry and mathematics. The Tollets' social circle included Isaac Newton, who also encouraged her to pursue her education. In 1724 she published Poems on Several Occasions, which included her Hypatia, now seen as a feminist protest poem. On Newton's death in 1727 Tollet produced an elegy, On the Death of Sir Isaac Newton. She died in 1754 in the village of Westham, Essex (now known as West Ham) and is buried at All Saints church there)

The Best Poem Of Elizabeth Tollet

Curiosity

Nor wish, nor fondly seek to know
What Fate denies to human Kind:
Misfortunes more severe wou'd grow,
If what we follow we should find.


That Origin of being curst,
Does with the Sex's Frailty suit:
And wretched Man was ruin'd first
When Woman pull'd the tempting Fruit.


How rashly she for Knowledge sought?
The fatal Error chains us still,
How dear our gen'ral Mother bought
The Knowledge of her certain Ill!


In Grace to us has Heav'ns Decree
Conceal'd from Sight Events to come:
While, by our vain Inquiries, we
Anticipate the dreaded Doom.


If silent Campbell cou'd to View
The future Scenes of Time unfold;
Were his prophetic Fables true,
As Delphian Oracles of old:


By mystic Arts and impious Spells,
In vain, alas! wou'd you explore,
What Fate retains in gloomy Cells;
What Love and Life have yet in Store.


Our Disappointment gives us Pain,
If 'tis impossible to know.
But what does their Discov'ry gain,
Who feel the Wound before the Blow?


Misfortune, Pain, and Death at last
'Tis certain all must undergo:
Why shou'd we singly long to taste,
The dire Ingredients of our Woe?

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