work_id,theme,provenance,created_at,text,reviewed_on,id,comments,metaphor,dictionary,updated_at,context
3963,"","Searching ""breast"" and ""guest"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2006-03-15 00:00:00 UTC,"Thus into Nature's Secrets Men descend,
And may to Knowledge in her Works pretend;
But who can Heav'n's deep Counsels comprehend?
Who can inform th' Enquirer, who can tell
Where Skill Divine, and Heav'nly Wisdom dwell?
For sensless Man its value does not know,
'Tis never found midst Mortals here below.
The Land exclaims aloud, I am not blest
To be th' abode of this Celestial Guest.
The Sea and all its noisy Waves, declare,
In vain you seek the sacred Stranger here.
Th' Infernal Deep cries with a hollow Sound,
Here's no Apartment for her under ground.
Th' unvaluable Blessing can't be bought,
With all the golden Wealth from Ophir brought.
He that has Wisdom Rubies will despise,
And Pearl, if tender'd as an equal Price.
Saphires and Diamonds, with vast labour sought,
The Topaz fetch'd from Countries far remote;
Which worn by mighty Kings, attract regard,
Are worthless Toys, with this bright Gem compar'd.
Who can instruct us then whence Wisdom flows?
And who the place of Understanding knows:
Since after strict enquiry we despair
To find it in the Land, the Sea, or Air?
Death and Destruction cry, midst all our Slaves
We ne'r saw Wisdom; to our secret Caves
We the Celestial Stranger ne'er convey'd,
Nor hid her in our solitary Shade.
We only are acquainted with her Name,
Have only heard of her Immortal Fame.
Only the Great All-penetrating God
Knows his own Offspring, Wisdom's blest abode.
For he surveys from Heav'n's bright Crystal brow,
The vast expanded Universe below;
The spacious liquid Vales of Sky and Air,
And all his Worlds, that hang in order there.
The Bounds of Nature, Chaos, and old Night,
Limit the Sun's, but not its Maker's Sight:
He has in Prospect this Terrestrial Isle,
And sees th' extreamest Bound'rys of its Soil.
He forms the various Meteors which appear
Thro' the low Regions of the Atmosphere.
He deals out to the Winds their proper weight,
Gives them their Wings, and then directs their Flight.
He measures out the drops with wondrous Skill,
Which the black Clouds his floating Bottles fill.
When he decreed the manner of the Rain,
And did the Lightning's crooked Path ordain;
When he appointed Nature's course and way,
And gave command that thence she should not stray;
Then Wisdom he beheld, he search'd with care
His own All-seeing Mind, and found it there.
He oft reflected on the sacred Guest,
Which had her fixt abode within his Breast,
And in his Works her God-like Form exprest.
But then to Man, to whom he had deny'd
The perfect Knowledge of his Ways, he cry'd,
The Fear of God is Wisdom, to depart
From Evil, this is Science, this is Art.
Attempt to know no more than God reveals,
Search not the Secrets which his Breast conceals.
In this Abyss trust not thy vent'rous Oar,
Wouldst thou be safe, then keep upon the Shore,
And from afar this awful Deep adore.
Thy Happiness in being Righteous lies,
Be Good, and in Perfection thou art wise.
Justly thou mayst despise the boastful Schools,
And learned Cant of grave, disputing Fools.",,10327,•I've included twice: Guest and Abode,"""He oft reflected on the sacred Guest, / Which had her fixt abode within his Breast, / And in his Works her God-like Form exprest.""",Inhabitants,2009-09-14 19:34:53 UTC,""
4038,"","Searching ""throne"" and ""soul"" in HDIS (Poetry); confirmed in ECCO.",2004-07-28 00:00:00 UTC,"Here too did Clifford's Course of Glory end,
A Man of Honour, and a faithful Friend.
None the Theorbo with a softer Hand,
Few with a stronger did the Sword command.
Whene'er he took the Lute, or grasp'd the Spear,
He touch'd the Heart with Pleasure, or with Fear.
By the same Hand, the Lute, the Lance, the Foe,
Did tremble in their turn, and like Emotion show.
The envious Ball pass'd thro' from Ear to Ear,
And did the tuneful Drums to pieces tear,
Which aeiey Accents beat, to make us hear.
It did the curious Instruments confound,
And all the winding Labarynths of Sound,
The charming Musick-Rooms, that entertain
The Soul high seated in her Throne the Brain.
(Bk IV, pp. 104-5)
",2012-01-12,10455,•I've included twice: Government and Architecture,"""It did the curious Instruments confound, / And all the winding Labarynths of Sound, / The charming Musick-Rooms, that entertain / The Soul high seated in her Throne the Brain.""",Inhabitants and Throne,2014-07-02 16:49:58 UTC,Book IV
4038,"","Searching ""fancy"" and ""crowd"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2006-03-08 00:00:00 UTC,"Haughton, for finer Conversation nam'd,
For shining Wit, and Erudition fam'd,
Lay, helpless Man! extended on the Ground,
And pour'd his vital Purple from his Wound.
The deadly Bullet thro' his Forehead past,
An Inch above the Eye-brows, and effac'd
The Haunts and Tracks of Learning in the Brain,
The num'rous Lodgings, which did entertain
All Mem'ry's crowded Guests, and Fancy's aeiry Train.",,10470,"•Great passage. INTEREST.
•I've included four times: Lodging, Crowd, Guest, Train","A bullet may efface ""The num'rous Lodgings, which did entertain / All Mem'ry's crowded Guests, and Fancy's aeiry Train.""",Inhabitants,2009-09-14 19:35:01 UTC,""
4153,Interiority,"Searching ""soul"" and ""room"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2005-08-29 00:00:00 UTC,"Here proper Ferments animate the Blood,
And give just Vigour to the bounding Flood.
The vital Streams with due impulsive Force
Spring from the Heart, and triumph in their Course;
Rarely a dull unagitated Mass
Do's lazy linger in its circling Race:
Nor do's a flaming rapid Torrent fry
The winding Tubes, and leave the Muscles dry;
While the mild Dews, forc'd with too great a Fire,
Desert the Limbs, and thro' the Pores perspire.
The Purple Streams, warm to a just Degree,
From Dregs and unconcocted Juices free,
As they pervade the Channels of the Brain,
Their purer Parts thro' the fine Meshes strain.
These active Liquors, which Admission find
Thro' the strait Paths, and leave the coarse behind,
Swift to the inmost Rooms their Passage beat,
And crowd around the Soul's Imperial Seat;
Of subtile Matter form'd, refin'd and bright,
As Light'ning sprightly, and serene as Light,
Watching their Soveraign's Nod, they ready stand
Apt to perform the Mind's supream Command.
Such noble Vital Instruments are fit
For Reason's Works, and beauteous Turns of Wit.
With finer Strokes they move the tender Strings
Tun'd in the Brain, whence clear Perception springs.
When Fancy makes superior Flight her Aim,
Wing'd with this vig'rous, clear seraphick Flame,
She ranges Nature's universal Frame;
Bright Seeds of Thought from various Objects takes,
Whence her fair Scenes and Images she makes:
Spirits so swift, so fine, so bold, so strong,
Gave Milton Genius fit for Milton's Song.",2009-05-26,10715,"•I've included thrice: Rooms, Crowd, Seat","""These active Liquors, which Admission find / Thro' the strait Paths, and leave the coarse behind, / Swift to the inmost Rooms their Passage beat, / And crowd around the Soul's Imperial Seat.""",Rooms,2009-09-14 19:35:13 UTC,""
4167,"",Searching in HDIS (Poetry),2005-05-18 00:00:00 UTC,"These Out-guards of the Mind are sent abroad,
And still patrolling beat the neighb'ring Road:
Or to the Parts remote obedient fly,
Keep Posts advanc'd, and on the Frontier lye.
The watchful Centinels at ev'ry Gate,
At ev'ry Passage to the Senses wait.
Still travel to and fro the Nervous way,
And their Impressions to the Brain convey,
Where their Report the Vital Envoys make,
And with new Orders are remanded back.
Quick, as a darted Beam of Light, they go,
Thro' diff'rent Paths to diff'rent Organs flow,
Whence they reflect as swiftly to the Brain,
To give it Pleasure, or to give it Pain.
(VI, ll. 670-683, pp. 305-6)",,10783,"","""The watchful Centinels at ev'ry Gate, / At ev'ry Passage to the Senses wait.""",Inhabitants,2013-08-07 14:43:02 UTC,Book VI
4167,Seat of Soul,Searching in HDIS (Poetry),2005-06-13 00:00:00 UTC,"Where dwells this Sovereign Arbitrary Soul,
Which does the human Animal controul,
Inform each Part, and agitate the whole?
O'er Ministerial Senses does preside,
To all their various Provinces divide,
Each Member move, and ev'ry Motion guide.
Which by her secret uncontested Nod
Her Messengers the Spirits sends abroad,
Thro' ev'ry nervous Pass, and ev'ry vital Road.
To fetch from ev'ry distant Part a Train,
Of outward Objects to enrich the Brain.
Where sits this bright Intelligence enthron'd,
With numberless Ideas pour'd around?
Where Wisdom, Prudence, Contemplation stand,
And busie Fantoms watch her high Command:
Where Sciences and Arts in order wait,
And Truths Divine compose her Godlike State.
Can the dissecting Steel the Brain display,
And the august Apartment open lay,
Where this great Queen still chuses to reside
In Intellectual Pomp, and bright Ideal Pride?
Or can the Eye assisted by the Glass
Discern the strait, but hospitable Place,
In which ten thousand Images remain,
Without Confusion, and their Rank maintain?
(VII, ll. 303-327, pp. 329-30)",,10794,"","""Can the dissecting Steel the Brain display, / And the august Apartment open lay, / Where this great Queen still chuses to reside / In Intellectual Pomp, and bright Ideal Pride? / Or can the Eye assisted by the Glass / Discern the strait, but hospitable Place, / In which ten thousand Images remain, / Without Confusion, and their Rank maintain?""",Rooms,2013-08-07 15:21:00 UTC,Book VII
4167,"","Searching in HDIS (Poetry); found again ""fancy"" and ""theat""",2005-08-28 00:00:00 UTC,"The ready Phantomes at her Nod advance,
And form the busie Intellectual Dance:
While her fair Scenes to vary, or supply,
She singles out fit Images, that lye
In Memory's Records, which faithful hold
Objects immense in secret Marks inroll'd,
The sleeping Forms at her Command awake,
And now return, and now their Cells forsake;
On active Fancy's crowded Theater,
As she directs, they rise or disappear.
(VII, ll. 436-445, pp. 337-8)",2012-01-12,10797,"•INTEREST. Cross-reference: Hume's metaphor from the Treatise.
•Rich Passage. REVISIT.
•I've included twice: Theater and Crowd
•Cross-reference: Blackmore uses the same metaphor in Redemption.
• USE IN ENTRY.","""The ready Phantomes at her Nod advance, / And form the busie Intellectual Dance: / While her fair Scenes to vary, or supply, / She singles out fit Images, that lye / In Memory's Records, which faithful hold / Objects immense in secret Marks inroll'd, / The sleeping Forms at her Command awake, / And now return, and now their Cells forsake; / On active Fancy's crowded Theater, / As she directs, they rise or disappear.""",Rooms and Inhabitants and Writing,2013-08-07 15:23:51 UTC,Book VII
4324,"","Searching in HDIS (Poetry); Found again ""soul"" and ""theat""",2005-08-16 00:00:00 UTC,"Say by what ties an incorporeal Mind
Is with a body vitally combin'd?
How to the soul are outward objects brought?
How is perception by their impulse wrought?
What is idea, phantasme, what is thought?
What curious artist can dissect the brain,
And shew in memory's stores the sleeping train
Of hoarded images? and who can tell
How each awaken'd from its little cell
Starts forth, and how the soul's command it hears
And soon on fancy's theatre appears?
",2012-05-16,11322,"•I've included thrice: Cell, Architecture, Actor
•Cross-reference: Blackmore uses same metaphor of theater in Creation: ""Fancy's crowded Theater.""
•Entry appeared twice. I deleted the duplicate (#11321).","""[W]ho can tell / How each [image] awaken'd from its little cell / Starts forth, and how the soul's command it hears / And soon on fancy's theatre appears?""",Inhabitants and Rooms,2012-05-16 21:11:45 UTC,""
4339,"","HDIS (Poetry); found again ""brain"" and ""cell""",2004-07-28 00:00:00 UTC," Thou see'st from whence her Colours Fancy takes,
Of what Materials she her Pencil makes
By which she paints her Scenes with such Applause,
And in the Brain ten thousand Landskips draws.
The Cells, and little Lodgings, Thou canst see
In Mem'ry's Hoards and secret Treasury;
Dost the dark Cave of each Idea spy,
And see'st how rang'd the crouded Lodgers lye;
How some, when beckon'd by the Soul, awake,
While peaceful Rest their uncall'd Neighbours take.
Thou know'st the downy Chains that softly bind
Our slumb'ring Sense, when waiting Objects find
No Avenue left open to the Mind.
Mean Time thou see'st how guideless Spirits play,
And mimick o'er in Dreams the busy Day,
With pleasant Scenes and Figures entertain,
Or with their monstrous Mixtures fright the Brain.
(pp. 99-100)",2012-01-10,11346,"•Rich passage. INTEREST. REVISIT. And see previous entries (this passage is actually previous to ""secret Soul's imperial Throne"" but after ""the wondrous Links"").
•I've included thrice: Architecture, Cave, and Population","""The Cells, and little Lodgings, Thou canst see / In Mem'ry's Hoards and secret Treasury; / Dost the dark Cave of each Idea spy, / And see'st how rang'd the crouded Lodgers lye; / How some, when beckon'd by the Soul, awake, / While peaceful Rest their uncall'd Neighbours take.""","Coinage, Inhabitants, and Rooms",2012-01-10 17:04:49 UTC,"End of Book III
""Thou"" is God. Alfred performs after a banquet"
4167,"",Reading,2013-08-07 16:57:57 UTC,"What high Perfections grace the human Mind,
In Flesh imprison'd, and to Earth confin'd!
What Vigour has she? What a piercing Sight?
Strong as the Winds, and sprightly as the Light?
She moves unweary'd, as the active Fire,
And, like the Flame, her Flights to Heav'n aspire.
By Day her Thoughts in never-ceasing Streams
Flow clear, by Night they strive in troubled Dreams.
She draws ten thousand Landschapes in the Brain,
Dresses of airy Forms an endless Train,
Which all her Intellectual Scenes prepare,
Enter by turns the Stage, and disappear.
To the remoter Regions of the Sky
Her swift-wing'd Thought can in a Moment fly;
Climb to the Heights of Heav'n, to be employ'd
In viewing thence th'Interminable Void.
Can look beyond the Stream of Time, to see
The stagnant Ocean of Eternity.
Thoughts in an Instant thro' the Zodiack run,
A Year's long Journey for the lab'ring Sun:
Then down they shoot, as swift as darting Light,
Nor can opposing Clouds retard their Flight:
Thro' Subterranean Vaults with Ease they sweep,
And search the hidden Wonders of the Deep.
(VII, ll. 204-227, pp. 323-4)",,22108,"","""She [the mind] draws ten thousand Landschapes in the Brain, / Dresses of airy Forms an endless Train, / Which all her Intellectual Scenes prepare, / Enter by turns the Stage, and disappear.""",Inhabitants,2013-08-07 16:57:57 UTC,Book VII