"Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind, / And makes it fearful and degenerate."

— Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)


Date
1594, 1623
Metaphor
"Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind, / And makes it fearful and degenerate."
Metaphor in Context
QUEEN MARGARET
Oft have I heard that grief softens the mind,
And makes it fearful and degenerate;
Think, therefore, on revenge, and cease to weep.
But who can cease to weep and look on this?
Here may his head lie on my throbbing breast,
But where's the body that I should embrace?
(IV.iv.1-6)
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.