work_id,theme,provenance,created_at,text,reviewed_on,id,comments,metaphor,dictionary,updated_at,context
4209,"",HDIS,2003-10-26 00:00:00 UTC,"Verse 457. Not half so loud , &c.]
The Poet having ended the Episode of Jupiter and Juno , returns to the Battel, where the Greeks being animated and led on by Neptune , renew the Fight with Vigour. The Noise and Outcry of this fresh Onset, he endeavours to express by these three sounding Comparisons; as if he thought it necessary to awake the Reader's Attention, which by the preceding Descriptions might be lull'd into a Forgetfulness of the Fight. He might likewise design to shew how soundly Jupiter slept, since he is not awak'd by so terrible an Uproar.
This Passage cannot be thought justly liable to the Objections which have been made against heaping Comparisons one upon another, whereby the principal Object is lost amidst too great a Variety of different Images. In this Case the principal Image is more strongly impress'd on the Mind by a Multiplication of Similes, which are the natural Product of an Imagination labouring to express something very vast: But finding no single Idea sufficient to answer its Conceptions, it endeavours by redoubling the Comparisons to supply this Defect: the different Sounds of Waters, Winds, and Flames being as it were united in one. We have several Instances of this sort even in so castigated and reserv'd a Writer as Virgil , who has joined together the Images of this Passage in the 4th Georgic , V. 261. and apply'd them, beautifully softened by a kind of Parody, to the buzzing of a Beehive.
Frigidus ut quondam sylvis immurmurat Auster,
Ut mare sollicitum stridet refluentibus undis,
Æstuat ut clausis rapidus fornacibus ignis.
Tasso has not only imitated this particular Passage of Homer , but likewise added to it.
Cant. 9. St. 22.
Rapido si che torbida procella
De cavernosi monti esce piu tarda:
Fiume, ch' alberi insieme, e case svella:
Folgore, che le torri abbatta, & arda:
Terremoto, che'l mondo empia d'horrore,
Son picciole sembianze al suo furore.
",,10928,"•INTEREST. Similes are the ""natural Product of an Imagination labouring to express something very vast""","""In this Case the principal Image is more strongly impress'd on the Mind by a Multiplication of Similes, which are the natural Product of an Imagination labouring to express something very vast.""",Impression,2009-09-14 19:35:24 UTC,""
4209,"","Searching ""mind"" and ""impression"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2005-05-16 00:00:00 UTC,"Verse 815. Three Ships with Nireus.]
This Leader is no where mention'd but in these Lines, and is an Exception to the Observation of Macrobius that all the Persons of the Catalogue make their Appearance afterwards in the Poem.Homer himself gives us the reason, because Nireus had but a small Share of Worth and Valour; his Quality only gave him a Privilege to be nam'd among Men. The Poet has caused him to be remember'd no less than Achilles orUlysses , but yet in no better manner than he deserv'd, whose only Qualification was his Beauty: 'Tis by a bare Repetition of his Name three times, which just leaves some Impression of him on the Mind of the Reader. Many others, of as trivial Memory as Nireus, have been preserv'd by Poets from Oblivion; but few Poets have ever done this Favour to Want of Merit with so much Judgment. Demetrius Phalereus peri ErmhneiaV , Sect. 61. takes notice of this beautiful Repetition, which in a just Deference to so delicate a Critick is here preserv'd in the Translation.",,10968,"•Footnote to following lines: ""Three Ships with Nireus sought the Trojan Shore, / Nireus, whom Agläe to Charopus bore, / Nireus, in faultless Shape, and blooming Grace""","""'Tis by a bare Repetition of his Name three times, which just leaves some Impression of him on the Mind of the Reader""",Impression,2009-09-14 19:35:26 UTC,""
4209,"","Searching ""mind"" and ""impression"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2005-05-16 00:00:00 UTC,"Verse 135. Me too ye Warriors hear, &c.]
We may observe what care Homer takes to give every one his proper Character, and how this Speech of Menelaus is adapted to the Laconick; which the better to comprehend, we may remember there are in Homer three Speakers of different Characters, agreeable to the three different kinds of Eloquence. These we may compare with each other in one Instance, supposing them all to use the same Heads, and in the same Order.
The Materials of the Speech are, The manifesting his Grief for the War, with the hopes that it is in his Power to end it; an Acceptance of the propos'd Challenge; an Account of the Ceremonies to be us'd in the League; and a Proposal of a proper Caution to secure it.
Now had Nestor these Materials to work upon, he would probably have begun with a Relation of all the Troubles of the nine Year's Siege which he hop'd he might now bring to an end; he would court their Benevolence and good Wishes for his Prosperity with all the Figures of Amplification; while he accepted the Challenge, he would have given an Example to prove that the single Combate was a wise, gallant, and gentle way of ending the War, practis'd by their Fathers; in the Description of the Rites he would be exceeding particular; and when he chose to demand the Sanction of Priam rather than of his Sons, he would place in Opposition on one side the Son's Action which began the War, and on the other the Impressions of Concern or Repentance which it must by this time have made in the Father's Mind, whose Wisdom he would undoubtedly extol as the effect of his Age. All this he would have expatiated upon with Connexions of the Discourses in the most evident manner, and the most easy, gliding, undisobliging Transitions. The Effect would be, that the People would hear him with Pleasure.
Had it been Ulysses who was to make the Speech, he would have mention'd a few of their most affecting Calamities in a pathetick Air; then have undertaken the Fight with testifying such a chearful Joy, as should have won the Hearts of the Soldiers to follow him to the Field without being desired. He would have been exceeding cautious in wording the Conditions; and solemn rather than particular in speaking of the Rites, which he would only insist on as an Opportunity to exhort both sides to a fear of the Gods, and a strict regard of Justice. He would have remonstrated the use of sending for Priam; and (because no Caution could be too much) have demanded his Sons to be bound with him. For a Conclusion he would have us'd some noble Sentiment agreeable to a Heroe, and (it may be) have enforc'd it with some inspirited Action. In all this you would have known that the Discourse hung together, but its Fire would not always suffer it to be seen in cooler Transitions, which (when they are too nicely laid open) may conduct the Reader, but never carry him away. The People would hear him with Emotion.
These Materials being given to Menelaus, he but just mentions their Troubles, and his Satisfaction in the Prospect of ending them, shortens the Proposals, says a Sacrifice is necessary, requires Priam's Presence to confirm the Conditions, refuses his Sons with a Resentment of that Injury he suffer'd by them, and concludes with a Reason for his Choice from the Praise of Age, with a short Gravity, and the Air of an Apothegm. This he puts in order without any more Transition than what a single Conjunction affords. And the effect of the Discourse is, that the People are instructed by it in what is to be done.",,10969,"•Footnote to following lines: ""Me too ye Warriors hear, whose fatal Right""","""[H]e would place in Opposition on one side the Son's Action which began the War, and on the other the Impressions of Concern or Repentance which it must by this time have made in the Father's Mind.""",Impression,2009-09-14 19:35:26 UTC,""
4209,"","Searching ""heart"" and ""impression"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2005-05-16 00:00:00 UTC,"Verse 164. And thy Heart waste with life-consuming Woe.]
This Expression in the Original is very particular. Were it to be translated literally it must be render'd, how long wilt thou eat, or prey upon thy own Heart by these Sorrows? And it seems that it was a common way of expressing a deep Sorrow; and Pythagoras uses it in this Sense, mh esqiein kardian, that is, grieve not excessively, let not sorrow make too great an Impression upon thy Heart.
Eustathius.",,10970,"•Footnote to following lines: ""How long, unhappy! shall thy Sorrows flow/ And thy Heart waste with life-consuming Woe?""","One should ""grieve not excessively, let not sorrow make too great an Impression upon thy Heart.""",Impression,2009-09-14 19:35:26 UTC,""