"As in pale churchyards, gleam'd by silent night, / Shou'd some cross'd spectre shade the moon's dim light, / Shudd'ry, the back'ning blood, revolving swift, / Cloggs the press'd heart--stretch'd fibres fail to lift: / Lost, in doubt's hard'ning frost--stopt motion lies, / While sense climbs, gradual, to the straining eyes."
— Hill, Aaron (1685-1750)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Date
1746, 1753
Metaphor
"As in pale churchyards, gleam'd by silent night, / Shou'd some cross'd spectre shade the moon's dim light, / Shudd'ry, the back'ning blood, revolving swift, / Cloggs the press'd heart--stretch'd fibres fail to lift: / Lost, in doubt's hard'ning frost--stopt motion lies, / While sense climbs, gradual, to the straining eyes."
Metaphor in Context
Close-following scorn,--Amazement ought to rise;
Angels feel Wonder, men should dare despise!
Born to mistakes, and erring out life's span,
Man--as if heaven were his--looks down on Man.
Say, then, what wonder is--trace its taught cause:
Mark its true features, and make known its laws:
Wonder is curious doubt,--Will's check'd retreat,
Shrinking from danger, it prepares to meet:
'Tis fear's half brother, of resembling face,
But fix'd, unwavering, and bound down to place:
Earnest, alarmful gaze, intently keen,
Notes the weigh'd object--yet, distrusts it, seen;
As in pale churchyards, gleam'd by silent night,
Shou'd some cross'd spectre shade the moon's dim light,
Shudd'ry, the back'ning blood, revolving swift,
Cloggs the press'd heart--stretch'd fibres fail to lift:
Lost, in doubt's hard'ning frost--stopt motion lies,
While sense climbs, gradual, to the straining eyes.
Angels feel Wonder, men should dare despise!
Born to mistakes, and erring out life's span,
Man--as if heaven were his--looks down on Man.
Say, then, what wonder is--trace its taught cause:
Mark its true features, and make known its laws:
Wonder is curious doubt,--Will's check'd retreat,
Shrinking from danger, it prepares to meet:
'Tis fear's half brother, of resembling face,
But fix'd, unwavering, and bound down to place:
Earnest, alarmful gaze, intently keen,
Notes the weigh'd object--yet, distrusts it, seen;
As in pale churchyards, gleam'd by silent night,
Shou'd some cross'd spectre shade the moon's dim light,
Shudd'ry, the back'ning blood, revolving swift,
Cloggs the press'd heart--stretch'd fibres fail to lift:
Lost, in doubt's hard'ning frost--stopt motion lies,
While sense climbs, gradual, to the straining eyes.
Categories
Provenance
Reading at the Folger Library
Citation
At least 4 entries in ESTC (1746, 1753, 1754, 1779).
Text from The Works of the Late Aaron Hill, 4 vols. (London: Printed for the Benefit of the Family, 1753).
Copy at Folger Library also consulted. Aaron Hill, The Art of Acting. Part 1. Deriving Rules from a New Principle, for Touching the Passions in a Natural Manner. An Essay of General Use. (London: Printed for J. Osborn, 1746).
Text from The Works of the Late Aaron Hill, 4 vols. (London: Printed for the Benefit of the Family, 1753).
Copy at Folger Library also consulted. Aaron Hill, The Art of Acting. Part 1. Deriving Rules from a New Principle, for Touching the Passions in a Natural Manner. An Essay of General Use. (London: Printed for J. Osborn, 1746).
Date of Entry
03/05/2012
