"But 'tis not Worldly Empire he design'd, / His Scepter is his Grace, his Throne the Mind."
— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Awnsham and John Churchil
Date
1695
Metaphor
"But 'tis not Worldly Empire he design'd, / His Scepter is his Grace, his Throne the Mind."
Metaphor in Context
'Tis true,
A King, he is, whose Empire's vast extent,
Shall pass all Bounds, and last when Time is spent.
Submissive Monarchs shall their Scepters lay
Before his Feet, and his Just Laws obey.
Kingdoms opprest shall his strong Aids invoke,
And thrust their Necks beneath his gentle Yoke.
The Roman Eagles shall the Conqueror own,
And Cæsar Court him to ascend his Throne.
Admir'd by all, he shall in Triumph go
Where fruitful Nile, or fam'd Hydaspes flow,
Uncheckt by Africk Heats, or Scythian Snow.
Nations invited by his Fame, shall come,
More than e'er made their Court to conquering Rome,
In splendid Embassies to sue for Peace,
And Worlds unknown his Empire shall encrease.
The Earth shall banish'd Justice now regain,
And Love and Truth attend the happy Reign.
Soft Peace and Joy the chearful Earth shall Crown,
And Savage Beasts shall lay their Fierceness down.
The Lyon, Wolf, and Lamb, no more their Prey,
And little Infants shall promiscuous play.
The years in Golden Harness smiling pass,
And keeping beauteous Order run their Race.
Nor shall his Kingdom cease, or Subjects die,
For when Time finds its empty Channel dry,
And all its disappearing Streams shall sleep,
Lost and ingulph'd in vast Durations Deep:
Then shall this King his full Dominion gain,
And in Eternal Peace, and Triumph Reign.
But 'tis not Worldly Empire he design'd,
His Scepter is his Grace, his Throne the Mind.
Kings unmolested may their Scepters sway,
And Peaceful Subjects without Strife obey.
They may unrivall'd, and unenvy'd reign,
And all their Pomp, and Regal State maintain.
The great Redeemer has his Court unseen,
And reigns in Light, and Heavenly Love within.
A King, he is, whose Empire's vast extent,
Shall pass all Bounds, and last when Time is spent.
Submissive Monarchs shall their Scepters lay
Before his Feet, and his Just Laws obey.
Kingdoms opprest shall his strong Aids invoke,
And thrust their Necks beneath his gentle Yoke.
The Roman Eagles shall the Conqueror own,
And Cæsar Court him to ascend his Throne.
Admir'd by all, he shall in Triumph go
Where fruitful Nile, or fam'd Hydaspes flow,
Uncheckt by Africk Heats, or Scythian Snow.
Nations invited by his Fame, shall come,
More than e'er made their Court to conquering Rome,
In splendid Embassies to sue for Peace,
And Worlds unknown his Empire shall encrease.
The Earth shall banish'd Justice now regain,
And Love and Truth attend the happy Reign.
Soft Peace and Joy the chearful Earth shall Crown,
And Savage Beasts shall lay their Fierceness down.
The Lyon, Wolf, and Lamb, no more their Prey,
And little Infants shall promiscuous play.
The years in Golden Harness smiling pass,
And keeping beauteous Order run their Race.
Nor shall his Kingdom cease, or Subjects die,
For when Time finds its empty Channel dry,
And all its disappearing Streams shall sleep,
Lost and ingulph'd in vast Durations Deep:
Then shall this King his full Dominion gain,
And in Eternal Peace, and Triumph Reign.
But 'tis not Worldly Empire he design'd,
His Scepter is his Grace, his Throne the Mind.
Kings unmolested may their Scepters sway,
And Peaceful Subjects without Strife obey.
They may unrivall'd, and unenvy'd reign,
And all their Pomp, and Regal State maintain.
The great Redeemer has his Court unseen,
And reigns in Light, and Heavenly Love within.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "throne" and "mind" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Text from Richard Blackmore. Prince Arthur. An Heroick Poem. (London: Printed for Awnsham and John Churchil, 1695). <Link to EEBO-TCP>
Six entries in ESTC. A popular work: third edition in 1697.
Six entries in ESTC. A popular work: third edition in 1697.
Date of Entry
07/07/2004
Date of Review
03/11/2010
