Fancy may over-rule reason
— Granville, George, Baron Lansdowne (1666-1735)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Henry Playford ... and Benj. Tooke [etc.]
Date
1696
Metaphor
Fancy may over-rule reason
Metaphor in Context
THIRSIS
Delia, how long must I despair,
And tax you with Disdain?
Still to my tender Love severe,
Relentless to my Pain.
DELIA
When Men of equal Merit love us,
And do with equal Ardor sue;
Thirsis you know but one must move us,
Can I be your's and Strephon's too?
My ravish'd Eyes view both with Pleasure,
Impartial to your high desert;
To both alike Esteem I measure,
To one alone can give my Heart.
THIRSIS
Mysterious Guide of Inclination,
Tell me Tyrant, why am I
With equal Merit, equal Passion,
Thus the Victim chosen to dye?
Why am I
The Victim chosen to dye?
DELIA
On Fate alone depends Success,
And Fancy Reason over-rules;
Or why should Virtue ever miss
Reward, so often given to Fools.
'Tis not the Handsome, nor the Witty;
But who alone is born to please:
Love do's predestinate our pity;
We chuse but whom he first decrees.
Delia, how long must I despair,
And tax you with Disdain?
Still to my tender Love severe,
Relentless to my Pain.
DELIA
When Men of equal Merit love us,
And do with equal Ardor sue;
Thirsis you know but one must move us,
Can I be your's and Strephon's too?
My ravish'd Eyes view both with Pleasure,
Impartial to your high desert;
To both alike Esteem I measure,
To one alone can give my Heart.
THIRSIS
Mysterious Guide of Inclination,
Tell me Tyrant, why am I
With equal Merit, equal Passion,
Thus the Victim chosen to dye?
Why am I
The Victim chosen to dye?
DELIA
On Fate alone depends Success,
And Fancy Reason over-rules;
Or why should Virtue ever miss
Reward, so often given to Fools.
'Tis not the Handsome, nor the Witty;
But who alone is born to please:
Love do's predestinate our pity;
We chuse but whom he first decrees.
Provenance
Searching "rule" and "reason" in HDIS (Drama)
Date of Entry
06/22/2004
