"In cloister'd state let selfish sages dwell, / Proud that their heart is narrow as their cell!"
— Shenstone, William (1714-1763)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Date
1764, 1773
Metaphor
"In cloister'd state let selfish sages dwell, / Proud that their heart is narrow as their cell!"
Metaphor in Context
Cease, lovely maid, fair daughter of the skies!
My guide! my queen! th'extatic youth replies.
In thee I trace a form design'd for sway;
Which chiefs may court, and kings with pride obey.
And, by thy bright immortal friends I swear,
Thy fair idea shall no toils impair.
Lead me! O lead me where whole hosts of foes,
Thy form depreciate, and thy friends oppose!
Welcome all toils th'inequal fates decree,
While toils endear thy faithful charge to thee.
Such be my cares, to bind th'oppressive hand,
And crush the fetters of an injur'd land:
To see the monster's noxious life resign'd,
And tyrants quell'd, the monsters of mankind!
Nature shall smile to view the vanquish'd brood,
And none, but envy, riot unsubdu'd,
In cloister'd state let selfish sages dwell,
Proud that their heart is narrow as their cell!
And boast their mazy labryinth of rules,
Far less the friends of virtue, than the fools:
Yet such in vain thy fav'ring smiles pretend;
For he is thine, who proves his country's friend.
Thus when my life well-spent the good enjoy,
And the mean envious labour to destroy;
When, strongly lur'd by fame's contiguous shrine,
I yet devote my choicer vows to thine;
If all my toils thy promis'd favour claim,
O lead thy fav'rite thro' the gates of fame!
(Cf. I, pp. 260-1 in 1764 ed.)
My guide! my queen! th'extatic youth replies.
In thee I trace a form design'd for sway;
Which chiefs may court, and kings with pride obey.
And, by thy bright immortal friends I swear,
Thy fair idea shall no toils impair.
Lead me! O lead me where whole hosts of foes,
Thy form depreciate, and thy friends oppose!
Welcome all toils th'inequal fates decree,
While toils endear thy faithful charge to thee.
Such be my cares, to bind th'oppressive hand,
And crush the fetters of an injur'd land:
To see the monster's noxious life resign'd,
And tyrants quell'd, the monsters of mankind!
Nature shall smile to view the vanquish'd brood,
And none, but envy, riot unsubdu'd,
In cloister'd state let selfish sages dwell,
Proud that their heart is narrow as their cell!
And boast their mazy labryinth of rules,
Far less the friends of virtue, than the fools:
Yet such in vain thy fav'ring smiles pretend;
For he is thine, who proves his country's friend.
Thus when my life well-spent the good enjoy,
And the mean envious labour to destroy;
When, strongly lur'd by fame's contiguous shrine,
I yet devote my choicer vows to thine;
If all my toils thy promis'd favour claim,
O lead thy fav'rite thro' the gates of fame!
(Cf. I, pp. 260-1 in 1764 ed.)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "mind" and "cell" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
20 entries for Works in ESTC and ECCO (1764, 1765, 1768, 1769, 1770, 1773, 1776, 1776, 1777, 1779, 1791).
Text from The Works, in Verse and Prose, of William Shenstone, Esq. 2 vols., 4th ed. (London: Printed by H. S. Woodfall, for J. Dodsley, 1773). <Link to UVA E-Text Center>.
See also The Works in Verse and Prose, of William Shenstone, Esq; Most of Which Were Never Before Printed. In Two Volumes, With Decorations. (London: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley, 1764). <Link to ESTC><Link to Vol. 1 in Hathi Trust><Vol. 2><Vol. 3>
Text from The Works, in Verse and Prose, of William Shenstone, Esq. 2 vols., 4th ed. (London: Printed by H. S. Woodfall, for J. Dodsley, 1773). <Link to UVA E-Text Center>.
See also The Works in Verse and Prose, of William Shenstone, Esq; Most of Which Were Never Before Printed. In Two Volumes, With Decorations. (London: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley, 1764). <Link to ESTC><Link to Vol. 1 in Hathi Trust><Vol. 2><Vol. 3>
Date of Entry
08/16/2005
