Lost Dives

Question

What do "Dives" mean in the following context:"I have but dared to peep at heaven while I might, and only as lost Dives peeped." (Domnei)

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

StardrinkWhat does "Dives" mean in the following context:

"I have but dared to peep at heaven while I might, and only as lost Dives peeped." (Domnei)

It is the name of the rich man in the Dives and Lazarus story in the Old Testament of the Bible. (Actually, "dives" is just the Latin word for rich man, but it's also taken as the name of the character himself in the story.) In the story Dives is "lost", i.e., goes to **** after he dies, but while there, gets a brief glimpse of heaven (a 'peep' at heaven).

This appears to be an extract from a poem, so to judge by the meter, I'd say that Dives is pronounced with two syllables, probably DIE-veez.

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From Wikipedia:

The Parable of the rich man and Lazarus (also called the Dives and Lazarus or Lazarus and Dives) is a well known parable of Jesus which appears in one of the Four Gospels of the New Testament.

According to Gospel of Luke (16:19-31), the parable tells of the relationship, in life and in death, between an unnamed rich man and a poor beggar named Lazarus. The traditional "name" Dives, is not in fact a name but the word for "rich man",[1] dives, in the text of the Latin Bible, the Vulgate.[2]
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See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_man_and_Lazarus

And http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05048a.htm

CJ

Stardrink · Answer

Thanks!

It is actually dialogue from a novel.

Lost Dives

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