work_id,theme,provenance,created_at,text,reviewed_on,id,comments,metaphor,dictionary,updated_at,context
3227,"",HDIS (Poetry),2004-07-27 00:00:00 UTC,"But most Alas by vain opinion lead
Ore the wild maze of erring passions tread
& now to this & now to that we go
& each desire & neither rightly know
& act irresolute in all we do
& seldom stay to search our objects through
Desire is vain & wanton free to range
Fond of a Chace & fond the Chace to Change
By turns a thousand inclinations rise
& each by turns as impotently dies
Now thought grows wild if loose Aminta's kind
Shee spreads her Charms & captivates the mind
Anon Aminta leaves the thought at ease
No more her aires & soft Allurements please
We love reclining in ye shady bowers
by running waters near sweet banks of flowrs
To surfeit nature with full bowles of wine
& with forcd appetites on bliss refine
Then buisy then fantastically wise
Then to be some thing else we streight devise
For Fancy still undreind affors supplys
tis thus if reason from the throne be gon
The madd affections bear their master on
His life proves restless & his labour vain
By hurrying after Phantomes of the brain
So the brave Falcon when its glorys fade
When its strong wings their generous forces shed
The vacant holds ignobler birds supply
With Ravens feathers impd she mounts on high
& weak or giddy strayes along the sky
",,8472,"","""But most Alas by vain opinion lead / Ore the wild maze of erring passions tread.""","",2012-07-25 13:03:25 UTC,""
3909,"","Searching ""soul"" and ""room"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2005-08-29 00:00:00 UTC," For thy approaching Grief
A speaking Sadness sat in ev'ry Eye,
All strove to give Relief,
As if they fear'd some Storm was nigh:
Thy very Eyes their coming Fate confest,
And their Resentment for thy Fall exprest.
Thy Soul retir'd to her inmost Room,
Dreading the Pressure of the Stroke to come:
But see, Heav'ns peculiar Care
Saves and protects the Fair;
And often is at the Expence
Of Miracles, to save such Excellence:
So many Thoughts great Jove it cost
To make a Piece most exquisitely Fine,
He would not have the Copy lost
By Death's unruly Hands; much less by thine.
(p. 139, ll.19-34)",,10106,"•Cross-reference: in Dryden's ""Threnodia Augustalis"" as well. Blackmore also uses this expression","""Thy Soul retir'd to her inmost Room, / Dreading the Pressure of the Stroke to come""",Rooms,2009-09-14 19:34:43 UTC,Second Stanza
3910,"",Searching in HDIS (Poetry),2006-03-15 00:00:00 UTC,"When sent from Heav'n a more than common Guest
Takes up his dwelling in a mortal Breast;
And when a Soul of large Dimensions comes
T' inform the human flesh--compacted Rooms,
The gladsome Fabrick full of Beauty shows,
No common Splendour from the Windows flows:
A sacred Brightness doth the Seat attend,
And th'Inmate prosp'rous Omens do befriend.
Quick Worth, Præcocious Vertue, Early Grace,
And ripe Perfeetion doth the Soul embrace.
Inspired Wit fills the capacious Mind,
And forward Sense, to lofty flights enclin'd,
Prevents the tedious Discipline of Schools,
The Loyt'ring Art of Pædagogick Rules.",,10111,"","""And when a Soul of large Dimensions comes / T' inform the human flesh--compacted Rooms, / The gladsome Fabrick full of Beauty shows""",Rooms,2009-09-14 19:34:43 UTC,""
4169,"","Searching ""soul"" and ""cell"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2005-08-16 00:00:00 UTC,"Why from my Native Station am I sent
A Captive to this narrow Tenement?
How oft wou'd I attempt a shameful Flight,
In Fire or Water bid the World good Night?
How oft have I their happy Fate admir'd,
Who by the Sword or Poison have expir'd?
But to gain Heav'n, we must Heav'ns leisure stay,
Such rash Attempters have mistook the way.
As only Heav'n our Beings did bestow,
'Tis Heav'ns sole right to countermand them too:
And when to take what That first gave we strive,
We impiously encroach on God's Prerogative;
And on our Souls by this unlawful Act,
In breaking Pris'n we a new Guilt contract:
While th'impious Course we take to set us free,
Betrays us to a greater Slavery.
Had I some winding Lab'rinth for my Jail,
I then might hope for Freedom to prevail:
But while imbody'd in this Flesh I lie,
Heav'n must be the Deliverer, not I.
Let the mistaken Wretch his Pris'n accuse,
Which for his Flight did no kind Means refuse.
Wou'd some kind Chink one heavenly Ray admit
To bless my Eyes, how wou'd I honour it?
But while confin'd to this dark Cell I lie,
My captive Soul can't reach its native Sky,
Here, even my Will's a slave to Passions made,
Passions which have its Liberty betray'd.
When piously it is inclin'd to good,
'Tis by repugnant Passions still withstood.
Thus Israel in th'Ægyptian Bondage far'd,
While from the Service of their God debarr'd;
When to his Worship they desir'd to go,
The Tyrant Phar'oh always answer'd, No.
Oh my dear God! visit this humble Cell,
And see within what narrow Walls I dwell.
But if the Locks, and Bars, and Grates afright,
Command them all to open at thy sight.
Command them, Lord, to set thy Servant free;
Nor will this Deed without Example be:
Angels have left their Thrones and Bliss above,
To ransom those whom thou art pleas'd to Love:
Thus Peter did his op'ning Prison view,
Yet scarce believ'd the Miracle was true.
But no such Favour is indulg'd to me,
I want (alas!) such happy Liberty.
Come, my dear Lord! unlock my Prison Gate,
And let my Soul tow'rd Heav'n expatiate:
In triumph tho' thy Slave conducted be,
I'll bless the Chains that bind me close to Thee.
To Thee my Hands are thro' the Gates addrest;
O that I cou'd but follow with the rest!
The captive Bird about its Cage will fly,
And the least way for its Escape espy,
And with its Bill gnaws thro' the Twiggy Grate
A secret Passage to its first free State.
Can'st thou, my God! be deaf to all my Cries,
And more obdurate than my Prison is?
Nor for my Self, but Thee do I complain,
Thy sacred Praise, which I wou'd Sing, in vain;
For here (alas!) I cannot once rejoyce,
Nor touch my Strings, nor raise my tuneful Voice.
For Birds confin'd, to rage convert their Notes,
Or sullen grown, lock up their silent Throats.
Come then, my God, unlock my Prison-gate,
And let my Soul tow'rds Heaven Expatiate!
There my loud Voice in joyful Notes I'll raise,
And sing Eternal Anthems to thy Praise.
But if thou wilt not this Request allow,
At thy own Glory thou must envious grow.",,10795,•Cross-reference: translation from Augustine's Soliloquies.,"""But while confin'd to this dark Cell I lie, / My captive Soul can't reach its native Sky""",Rooms,2009-09-14 19:35:17 UTC,V.
4169,"",Searching in HDIS (Poetry),2006-01-17 00:00:00 UTC,"I who did once thro' Heav'ns wide Regions rove,
Free Denizen of those vast Realms above;
Now to a narrow Dungeon am confin'd,
A Cave that darkens and restrains my Mind.
When first my Soul put on its fleshly Load,
It was Imprison'd in the dark Abode;
My Feet were Fetters, my Hands Manacles,
My Sinews Chains, and all Confinement else;
My Bones the Bars of my loath'd Prison grate;
My Tongue the Turn-key, and my Mouth the Gate.",2011-05-25,10805,"•I've included thrice: Load, Prison, Abode. But should probably also include Fetters. ","""When first my Soul put on its fleshly Load, / It was Imprison'd in the dark Abode; / My Feet were Fetters, my Hands Manacles, / My Sinews Chains, and all Confinement else; / My Bones the Bars of my loath'd Prison grate; / My Tongue the Turn-key, and my Mouth the Gate.""",Fetters,2011-06-29 03:01:33 UTC,""
7558,"","Searching ""mind"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2013-07-24 15:07:58 UTC,"I.
Why should I grovel here below?
Mistake that hopeful Bliss to come?
At shadows grasp, as Heathens do,
And never think of future Doom?
II.
No, I will break this House of Clay,
Which clogs my fleeter Thoughts and Mind,
My Guardian Angel bids away,
Where I Eternal Bliss may find.
(pp. 14-15, ll. 1-8)",,21990,"","""No, I will break this House of Clay, / Which clogs my fleeter Thoughts and Mind.""",Rooms,2013-07-24 15:07:58 UTC,""
7559,"","Searching ""mind"" in C-H Lion",2013-07-24 15:13:05 UTC,"Condemn'd in this dark Prison must I here,
Watch till the Trumpet strike mine Ear?
Must I ne'er know thy Goodness and thy Love,
Because I did transgress thy Will above?
Must Clouds and Vapours still obscure my Mind?
Must I to this dark Sphere be thus confin'd?
No, no, I will launch out, and wing away,
Unto the Regions of a brighter Day.
Some Glances of a State that's past I find,
Take up the Corners of my thoughtful Mind,
As cover'd Embers when they're blown, create
A Flame, and represent my former State.
The Flashings of such Joy do strike so strong
My Temples, that I can't endure it long,
I must dissolve and in these Thoughts expire,
And like the Prophet's Coach ascend in Fire.
(pp. 19-20, ll. 1-16)",,21991,"","""Condemn'd in this dark Prison must I here, / Watch till the Trumpet strike mine Ear? / Must I ne'er know thy Goodness and thy Love, / Because I did transgress thy Will above? / Must Clouds and Vapours still obscure my Mind?""","",2013-07-24 15:13:05 UTC,""
7559,"","Searching ""mind"" in C-H Lion",2013-07-24 15:14:42 UTC,"Condemn'd in this dark Prison must I here,
Watch till the Trumpet strike mine Ear?
Must I ne'er know thy Goodness and thy Love,
Because I did transgress thy Will above?
Must Clouds and Vapours still obscure my Mind?
Must I to this dark Sphere be thus confin'd?
No, no, I will launch out, and wing away,
Unto the Regions of a brighter Day.
Some Glances of a State that's past I find,
Take up the Corners of my thoughtful Mind,
As cover'd Embers when they're blown, create
A Flame, and represent my former State.
The Flashings of such Joy do strike so strong
My Temples, that I can't endure it long,
I must dissolve and in these Thoughts expire,
And like the Prophet's Coach ascend in Fire.
(pp. 19-20, ll. 1-16)",,21992,"","""Some Glances of a State that's past I find, / Take up the Corners of my thoughtful Mind, / As cover'd Embers when they're blown, create / A Flame, and represent my former State.""",Rooms,2013-07-24 15:14:42 UTC,""