work_id,theme,provenance,created_at,text,reviewed_on,id,comments,metaphor,dictionary,updated_at,context 7508,"",Reading in Google Books,2013-07-08 17:11:23 UTC,"I was the other day in company with five or six men of some learning, where chancing to mention the famous verses which the Emperor Adrian spoke on his death-bed, they were all agreed that 'twas a piece of Gayety unworthy of that prince in those circumstances. I could not but differ from this opinion: methinks it was by no means a gay, but a very serious soliloquy to his soul at the point of its departure; in which sense I naturally took the verses at my first reading them when I was very young, and before I knew what interpretation the world generally put upon them.
Hospes comesque corporis,
Quae nunc abibis in loca?
Pallidula rigida nudula,
Nec (ut soles) dabis joca!

""Alas, my soul! thou pleasing companion of this body, thou fleeting thing that art now deserting it! whither art thou flying? to what unknown scene? all trembling, fearful, and pensive! what now is become of thy former wit and humour? thou shalt jest and be gay no more.""
(To and From Mr. Steele Nov. 7, 1712, L53, p. 103)",,21515,Soliloquy,"""""Alas, my soul! thou pleasing companion of this body, thou fleeting thing that art now deserting it! whither art thou flying? to what unknown scene? all trembling, fearful, and pensive! what now is become of thy former wit and humour? thou shalt jest and be gay no more.""",Inhabitants,2013-07-08 17:11:23 UTC,Letter LIII