"'Well I can call to mind the managed air / 'That gave no comfort, that brought no despair, / 'That in a dubious balance held the mind, / 'To each side turning, never much inclined."
— Crabbe, George (1754-1832)
Author
Work Title
Date
1819
Metaphor
"'Well I can call to mind the managed air / 'That gave no comfort, that brought no despair, / 'That in a dubious balance held the mind, / 'To each side turning, never much inclined."
Metaphor in Context
"Though much she knew, yet nothing could she prove;
"I had not yet confess'd the crime of love;
"But in an hour when guardian-angels sleep,
"I fail'd the secret of my soul to keep;
"And then I saw the triumph in those eyes
"That spoke--'Ay, now you are indeed my prize.'
"I almost thought I saw compassion, too,
"For all the cruel things she meant to do.
"Well I can call to mind the managed air
"That gave no comfort, that brought no despair,
"That in a dubious balance held the mind,
"To each side turning, never much inclined.
"I had not yet confess'd the crime of love;
"But in an hour when guardian-angels sleep,
"I fail'd the secret of my soul to keep;
"And then I saw the triumph in those eyes
"That spoke--'Ay, now you are indeed my prize.'
"I almost thought I saw compassion, too,
"For all the cruel things she meant to do.
"Well I can call to mind the managed air
"That gave no comfort, that brought no despair,
"That in a dubious balance held the mind,
"To each side turning, never much inclined.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "balance" and "mind" in HDIS (Poetry)
Date of Entry
12/11/2006
