"A thousand Griefs attending on the same. / Which march in ranck and file, proceed to make / A Battery, and the fort of Life to take."

— Taylor, Edward (1642-1729)


Date
c. 1680
Metaphor
"A thousand Griefs attending on the same. / Which march in ranck and file, proceed to make / A Battery, and the fort of Life to take."
Metaphor in Context
While man unmarr'd abode, his Spirits all
In Vivid hue were active in their hall,
This Spotless Body; here and there mentain
Their traffick for the Universall gain,
Till Sin Beat up for Volunteers. Whence came
A thousand Griefs attending on the same.
Which march in ranck and file, proceed to make
A Battery, and the fort of Life to take
.
Which when the Centinalls did spy, the Heart
Did beate alarum up in every part.
The Vitall Spirits apprehend thereby
Exposde to danger great suburbs ly,
The which they do desert, and speedily
The Fort of Life the Heart, they Fortify,
The Heart beats up still by her Pulse to Call
Out of the outworks her train Souldiers all
Which quickly come hence: now the Looks grow pale,
Limbs feeble too: the Enemies prevaile:
Do scale the Outworks where there's Scarce a Scoute
That can be Spi'de sent from the Castle out.
(p. 34)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Date of Entry
11/03/2003
Date of Review
03/23/2009

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