Friendship springs "From some interiour, hidden, innate Cause, / In Noble Breasts, uncircumscrib'd by Laws"
— Mollineux [née Southworth], Mary (1651-1695)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed and Sold by T. Sowle
Date
w. 1682, 1702
Metaphor
Friendship springs "From some interiour, hidden, innate Cause, / In Noble Breasts, uncircumscrib'd by Laws"
Metaphor in Context
Amongst the many Records I have read,
And Transcripts, thro' the world much scattered,
I've met with several Hints and Whisperings,
Of an abstruse Grand-Property, that springs
From some interiour, hidden, innate Cause,
In Noble Breasts, uncircumscrib'd by Laws,
Styl'd Friendship, which of such a Nature is,
That many think they know it when they miss.
But 'tis suppos'd of such sweet Innocence,
Of so Divine and Sacred Influence,
When it doth in true tender Hearts prevail,
That when occurrent Troubles would assail,
It guards, as doth a Bulwark, either Breast,
Where it resides, and taketh up its rest.
But O! this treacherous World knows little of it,
Except it be in Name, whereby to scoff it.
For now, tho' some affected with the Name,
Would be suppos'd touch'd with its Noble Flame,
They scorn its Dictates, and will not regard
A troubled Friend, except some fair Reward
Appear in view; their Business or their Pride
Engrosses all; Self may not be deny'd.
O when will Mortals raise their Eyes to see,
That all things here are only Vanity!
And Transcripts, thro' the world much scattered,
I've met with several Hints and Whisperings,
Of an abstruse Grand-Property, that springs
From some interiour, hidden, innate Cause,
In Noble Breasts, uncircumscrib'd by Laws,
Styl'd Friendship, which of such a Nature is,
That many think they know it when they miss.
But 'tis suppos'd of such sweet Innocence,
Of so Divine and Sacred Influence,
When it doth in true tender Hearts prevail,
That when occurrent Troubles would assail,
It guards, as doth a Bulwark, either Breast,
Where it resides, and taketh up its rest.
But O! this treacherous World knows little of it,
Except it be in Name, whereby to scoff it.
For now, tho' some affected with the Name,
Would be suppos'd touch'd with its Noble Flame,
They scorn its Dictates, and will not regard
A troubled Friend, except some fair Reward
Appear in view; their Business or their Pride
Engrosses all; Self may not be deny'd.
O when will Mortals raise their Eyes to see,
That all things here are only Vanity!
Categories
Provenance
Searching "breast" and "interio" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
At least 7 entries in ESTC (1702, 1720, 1729, 1739, 1761, 1772, 1776).
See Fruits of Retirement: or, Miscellaneous Poems, Moral and Divine. Being Some Contemplations, Letters, &C. Written on Variety of Subjects and Occasions. By Mary Mollineux, Late of Leverpool, Deceased. To Which Is Prefixed, Some Account of the Author. (London: printed and sold by T. Sowle, in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street, 1702). <Link to ESTC>
See Fruits of Retirement: or, Miscellaneous Poems, Moral and Divine. Being Some Contemplations, Letters, &C. Written on Variety of Subjects and Occasions. By Mary Mollineux, Late of Leverpool, Deceased. To Which Is Prefixed, Some Account of the Author. (London: printed and sold by T. Sowle, in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street, 1702). <Link to ESTC>
Theme
Innatism; Inwardness
Date of Entry
08/09/2005
