"Since reason's lamp illuminates the mind, / And cogent proves eternity to man; / Since justice too, eternal, will require / Strict retribution for offences past; / Serious reflect on God's supreme decrees, / And learn obedience to his great commands"
— Mr. P--y (fl. 1763)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by Dryden Leach
Date
1763-4
Metaphor
"Since reason's lamp illuminates the mind, / And cogent proves eternity to man; / Since justice too, eternal, will require / Strict retribution for offences past; / Serious reflect on God's supreme decrees, / And learn obedience to his great commands"
Metaphor in Context
" Can you, who brave repell'd th' insidious foe,
" And nobly humbled their imperious crest;
" Can you, so high-renown'd for martial deeds
" And fair emprise, to discord fall a prey?
" Instant renounce each stupor of the soul,
" And virtuous dare the fam'd Britannia's weal.
" Remember Rome, august, imperial Rome—
" She long in virtue's cause resplendent shone:
" Fragrant she bloom'd, and flourish'd wondrous fair,
" Till pomp, vile luxury, corruption fell,
" And Hydra Faction, with malignant breath,
" Tumbled, with cumbrous fall, her eagle-head!
" This world's dread empress, renown'd for learning;
" For arms, arts, virtuous deeds, without compeer.
" Now how inglorious! how supinely sunk!
" Fallen from her high estate, and grovelling in the dust.
" Since reason's lamp illuminates the mind,
" And cogent proves eternity to man;
" Since justice too, eternal, will require
" Strict retribution for offences past;
" Serious reflect on God's supreme decrees,
" And learn obedience to his great commands:
" For what avail earth's pageant pomp and joys
" In that dread hour when death terrific comes,—
" The gaudy title, silken dalliance,
" And life too gaily spent, will but torment,
" Not calm the mind, in that tremendous moment!
" Let then your civil broils and discord cease;
" Enjoy the fruits of your well-earn'd renown;
" Cast off each vice, each poisonous dreg of life;
" Fly fell corruption, taint of generous minds,
" Lest her corroding hand your frame dissolve,
" And bury in the dust your antient toil:
" But if, unheeded, exhortation pass,
" Britannia, now so fam'd, will sure imbibe
" A deeper stain than Afric's tawny sons!"
She said; then instant vanish'd into air,
When Morpheus soon his guardian post resign'd,
And memory, faithful, stamp'd upon my mind
The sage instructions of the meek-eyed fair.
(IX, pp. 114-5)
" And nobly humbled their imperious crest;
" Can you, so high-renown'd for martial deeds
" And fair emprise, to discord fall a prey?
" Instant renounce each stupor of the soul,
" And virtuous dare the fam'd Britannia's weal.
" Remember Rome, august, imperial Rome—
" She long in virtue's cause resplendent shone:
" Fragrant she bloom'd, and flourish'd wondrous fair,
" Till pomp, vile luxury, corruption fell,
" And Hydra Faction, with malignant breath,
" Tumbled, with cumbrous fall, her eagle-head!
" This world's dread empress, renown'd for learning;
" For arms, arts, virtuous deeds, without compeer.
" Now how inglorious! how supinely sunk!
" Fallen from her high estate, and grovelling in the dust.
" Since reason's lamp illuminates the mind,
" And cogent proves eternity to man;
" Since justice too, eternal, will require
" Strict retribution for offences past;
" Serious reflect on God's supreme decrees,
" And learn obedience to his great commands:
" For what avail earth's pageant pomp and joys
" In that dread hour when death terrific comes,—
" The gaudy title, silken dalliance,
" And life too gaily spent, will but torment,
" Not calm the mind, in that tremendous moment!
" Let then your civil broils and discord cease;
" Enjoy the fruits of your well-earn'd renown;
" Cast off each vice, each poisonous dreg of life;
" Fly fell corruption, taint of generous minds,
" Lest her corroding hand your frame dissolve,
" And bury in the dust your antient toil:
" But if, unheeded, exhortation pass,
" Britannia, now so fam'd, will sure imbibe
" A deeper stain than Afric's tawny sons!"
She said; then instant vanish'd into air,
When Morpheus soon his guardian post resign'd,
And memory, faithful, stamp'd upon my mind
The sage instructions of the meek-eyed fair.
(IX, pp. 114-5)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "mind" and "lamp" in ECCO-TCP
Citation
See The Poetical Calendar: Containing a Collection of Scarce and Valuable Pieces of Poetry: ... By the Most Eminent Hands. Intended As a Supplement to Mr. Dodsley's Collection. Written and Selected by Francis Fawkes, M. a. and William Woty. in Twelve Volumes. (London: Printed by Dryden Leach; for J. Coote, 1763-64). <Link to ECCO-TCP>
Date of Entry
08/22/2013
