"Her body delicate, wherein enshrin'd, / As in its temple, dwelt a virtuous mind."

— Ellwood, Thomas (1639-1713)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed and Sold by the Assigns of J. Sowle
Date
1712, 1796
Metaphor
"Her body delicate, wherein enshrin'd, / As in its temple, dwelt a virtuous mind."
Metaphor in Context
Unlike herself, a sister Merab had,
The joy and grief of many a noble lad,
Fair Michal she was call'd, whose lovely face,
No feature wanted that could add a grace;
Her body delicate, wherein enshrin'd,
As in its temple, dwelt a virtuous mind
;
Engaging sweetness beamed from her eye,
And on her cheek sate maiden modesty;
Her courteous mein gave proof to all that she
From pride and haughtiness of mind was free,
For of the meanest she would notice take,
Her whole converse, humility bespake;
So graceful was her gesture, it did move
At once beholders to admire and love.
(p. 117, ll. 111-124)
Provenance
Searching "mind" in LION
Citation
Poem begun in 1688, not complete and published until 1712. 13 entries in ESTC (1712, 1722, 1727, 1749, 1751, 1754, 1760, 1763, 1764, 1785, 1792, 1796, 1797).

Text from Davideis. The Life of David, King of Israel. A Sacred Poem. In Five Books. by Thomas Ellwood. 5th edition (London: Printed by James Phillips, 1796).

See also Davideis. The Life of David, King of Israel. A Sacred Poem. In Five Books. by Thomas Ellwood. (London: Printed and Sold by the Assigns of J. Sowle, in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street, 1712). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books>
Date of Entry
10/06/2013

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