# V explained — Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral

> Chapter companion for Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral by Phillis Wheatley.

## What happens

The speaker addresses a compassionate figure whose pity elevated the languishing muse, prompting the celestial nine to descend and inspire the speaker's lyre.

## Themes in this chapter

### Classical and Biblical Allusion

The reference to the 'celestial nine' directly alludes to the nine Muses, a classical motif for poetic inspiration.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The speaker describes their own muse as languid and low, then inspired by the celestial nine.

### Mneme

Implied as one of the celestial nine who deign to shine upon the speaker.

## Key lines

> For when thy pitying eye did see The languid muse in low degree, Then, then at thy desire Descended the celestial nine; O’er me methought they deign’d to shine, And deign’d to string my lyre.

When you looked with compassion upon my weak and failing inspiration, at your wish the nine Muses came down, graced me with their light, and tuned my instrument.

_The speaker credits a benefactor's pity with summoning divine poetic inspiration._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poems_on_various_subjects_religious_and_moral_se/chapters/v
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poems_on_various_subjects_religious_and_moral_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poems_on_various_subjects_religious_and_moral_se/chapters