"They did with Wine and Noise the Method find, / To Calm a Conscious, self-revenging Mind. / To lay asleep th' uneasie Judge within, / Till they with Care and Pains, grew bold in Sin."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Awnsham and John Churchil
Date
1695
Metaphor
"They did with Wine and Noise the Method find, / To Calm a Conscious, self-revenging Mind. / To lay asleep th' uneasie Judge within, / Till they with Care and Pains, grew bold in Sin."
Metaphor in Context
Next Cain's Rebellious Off-spring are accus'd,
As Heav'n's inveterate Foes, who long abus'd
Goodness Divine, whom Everlasting Love,
And Life Eternal, had no Charms to move.
They would no reconciling Terms embrace,
Alike by Threats unchang'd, or Acts of Grace.
They did with Wine and Noise the Method find,
To Calm a Conscious, self-revenging Mind.
To lay asleep th' uneasie Judge within,
Till they with Care and Pains, grew bold in Sin
.
For when the sacred Spirit, did convey
Into their Breasts, a secret Heav'nly Ray,
Which did, where cherish'd, soon bring on the Day:
With hasty Care they choak'd the new-sprung Light,
Calling to Aid the Shades of Hell, and Night.
Divine Compassion's Force they never felt,
Nor would in Flames of Love Eternal melt.
Their Hearts untouch'd did all Heav'n's Stroaks repel,
Temper'd, and harden'd in the Forge of Hell.
No Overtures of Peace, no Offers made,
Tho' of an endless Kingdom, could perswade
The unrelenting Rebels, to lay down
Their impious Arms, to take a Heav'nly Crown.
They still asserted with their latest Breath,
Their fixt Confed'racy with Hell, and Death.
'Tis on them charg'd, that others too that fell,
Drawn by their Arts, embark'd for Death and Hell.
They led them to the flow'ry Banks, and show'd
The flatt'ring Tide, where smiling Pleasures flow'd.
Where the charm'd Voyagers did careless ride,
Bewitching Syrens singing on their Side:
Till the false Flood betray'd them thither, where
It falls into the Gulph of black Despair.
Provenance
Searching "judge within" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Text from Richard Blackmore. Prince Arthur. An Heroick Poem. (London: Printed for Awnsham and John Churchil, 1695). <Link to EEBO-TCP>

Six entries in ESTC. A popular work: third edition in 1697.
Date of Entry
08/26/2004
Date of Review
02/05/2010

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.