" But as the Passions of the Human Mind / Must strictly be to Nature's Laws confin'd,"
— Johnson, Charles (1679?-1748)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Jacob Tonson
Date
1712
Metaphor
" But as the Passions of the Human Mind / Must strictly be to Nature's Laws confin'd,"
Metaphor in Context
Well therefore may our Author own his Fears
To tread, where Avon's Swan so oft appears;
To Night he aims to draw Domestick Life,
A Vicious Husband, and a Virtuous Wife;
But as the Passions of the Human Mind
Must strictly be to Nature's Laws confin'd,
He labours that his Wit shou'd timely flow,
And not the Business of the Scene forego.
A seasonable Jest may be allow'd,
But nothing that's Impertinent, is Good;
And yet he writes to please, and frankly owns,
Good Plays have very seldom met your Frowns;
Yet bad ones oft Succeed, and Harlequin
Has trick'd your Judgment, when he cur'd your Spleen
To tread, where Avon's Swan so oft appears;
To Night he aims to draw Domestick Life,
A Vicious Husband, and a Virtuous Wife;
But as the Passions of the Human Mind
Must strictly be to Nature's Laws confin'd,
He labours that his Wit shou'd timely flow,
And not the Business of the Scene forego.
A seasonable Jest may be allow'd,
But nothing that's Impertinent, is Good;
And yet he writes to please, and frankly owns,
Good Plays have very seldom met your Frowns;
Yet bad ones oft Succeed, and Harlequin
Has trick'd your Judgment, when he cur'd your Spleen
Categories
Provenance
Searching "mind" and "law" in HDIS (Drama)
Citation
At least 4 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1712, 1727, 1736).
The Wife's Relief: or, The Husband's Cure. A Comedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, by Her Majesty's Servants. Written by Mr. Cha. Johnson (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, at Shakespear’s Head over-against Catherine-street in the Strand, 1712). <Link to ESTC>
The Wife's Relief: or, The Husband's Cure. A Comedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, by Her Majesty's Servants. Written by Mr. Cha. Johnson (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, at Shakespear’s Head over-against Catherine-street in the Strand, 1712). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
04/25/2005
