"The spirit of the brain, distilled by the heat of the imagination, like some chemical preparations, when exposed to the air, is apt to smoke, to take fire, to crack, and bounce, to the no small disturbance of the neighbourhood."
— Richard Russel and John Martyn
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Date
April 30, 1730
Metaphor
"The spirit of the brain, distilled by the heat of the imagination, like some chemical preparations, when exposed to the air, is apt to smoke, to take fire, to crack, and bounce, to the no small disturbance of the neighbourhood."
Metaphor in Context
The spirit of the brain, distilled by the heat of the imagination, like some chemical preparations, when exposed to the air, is apt to smoke, to take fire, to crack, and bounce, to the no small disturbance of the neighbourhood. Nay, the very insipid phlegm, and even the caput mortuum of the brain, after this chemical operation, being mixed with ink, and spred upon paper, have the same combustible, noisy qualities, with the spirits themselves. But, to thy immortal honour be it spoken it is in thy power to suppress this noise, to extinguish this flame, and to dispell this smoak, so as they shail give no more offence to the eyes, ears, and noses of Christian people.
(79-80)
(79-80)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
Martyn, Richard Russel and John. Memoirs of the Society of Grub Street. London: J. WIlford, 1737. <Link to Google Books>
Date of Entry
12/13/2010
