Social Commentaries

Epigram: Scarce any scandal, but has a handle

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1772–1834

From Complete Poetical Works, ed. E. H. Coleridge (1912)

Social Commentaries

Scarce any scandal, but has a handle;
In truth most falsehoods have their rise;
Truth first unlocks Pandora's box,
And out there fly a host of lies.
Malignant light, by cloudy night,
To precipices it decoys one!
One nectar-drop from Jove's own shop
Will flavour a whole cup of poison.

✦ ✦ ✦

'Obscuri sub luce maligna.'--VIRG

MLA

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. “Epigram: Scarce any scandal, but has a handle.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/coleridge/331/.

Chicago

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. “Epigram: Scarce any scandal, but has a handle.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/coleridge/331/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Samuel Taylor Coleridge