"Comb down his hair -- look, look: it stands upright, / Like lime twigs set to catch my wingèd soul."

— Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)


Date
1594, 1623
Metaphor
"Comb down his hair -- look, look: it stands upright, / Like lime twigs set to catch my wingèd soul."
Metaphor in Context
CARDINAL BEAUFORT
Bring me unto my trial when you will.
Died he not in his bed? Where should he die?
Can I make men live whe'er they will or no?
O, torture me no more -- I will confess.
Alive again? Then show me where he is.
I'll give a thousand pound to look upon him.
He hath no eyes! The dust hath blinded them.
Comb down his hair -- look, look: it stands upright,
Like lime twigs set to catch my wingèd soul
.
Give me some drink, and bid the apothecary
Bring the strong poison that I bought of him.
(III.iii.8-18)
Provenance
HDIS
Citation
Shakespeare, William. The Complete Works. Oxford Shakespeare. Electronic Edition for the IBM PC. Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor, Editor.
Date of Entry
07/30/2003

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