"Some, with a dry and barren Brain, / Poor Rogues! like costive Lap-Dogs strain; / While others with a Flux of Wit, / The Reader and their Friends besh**t."
— Somervile, William (1675-1742)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Bernard Lintot
Date
1727
Metaphor
"Some, with a dry and barren Brain, / Poor Rogues! like costive Lap-Dogs strain; / While others with a Flux of Wit, / The Reader and their Friends besh**t."
Metaphor in Context
Dear Knight, how great a Drudge is he
Who wou'd excel in Poetry?
And yet how few have learnt the Art,
To inform the Head, or touch the Heart?
Some, with a dry and barren Brain,
Poor Rogues! like costive Lap-Dogs strain;
While others with a Flux of Wit,
The Reader and their Friends besh**t.
Wou'd you (Sir Knight) my Judgment know?
He still writes worst who writes so so.
In this the mighty Secret lies,
To Elevate, and to Surprize:
Thus far my Pen at random run,
The Fire was out, the Clock struck One.
Who wou'd excel in Poetry?
And yet how few have learnt the Art,
To inform the Head, or touch the Heart?
Some, with a dry and barren Brain,
Poor Rogues! like costive Lap-Dogs strain;
While others with a Flux of Wit,
The Reader and their Friends besh**t.
Wou'd you (Sir Knight) my Judgment know?
He still writes worst who writes so so.
In this the mighty Secret lies,
To Elevate, and to Surprize:
Thus far my Pen at random run,
The Fire was out, the Clock struck One.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "dog" and "brain" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
At least 5 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1727, 1779, 1780, 1790, 1795).
Text from William Somervile, Occasional Poems, Translations, Fables, Tales, &c. (London: Bernard Lintot, 1727). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books>
Found also in Johnson's Works of the English Poets (1779-1780, 1790, 1795) and Somervile's Poetical Works (1780).
Text from William Somervile, Occasional Poems, Translations, Fables, Tales, &c. (London: Bernard Lintot, 1727). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books>
Found also in Johnson's Works of the English Poets (1779-1780, 1790, 1795) and Somervile's Poetical Works (1780).
Date of Entry
07/03/2012
