"Passion more substantial Courts our Reason, solid, persuasive, elegant, sublime, where ev'ry Sense crowds to the luscious Banquet, and ev'ry nobler Faculty's imploy'd"
— Baker, Thomas (b. 1680-1)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Bernard Lintott
Date
1708
Metaphor
"Passion more substantial Courts our Reason, solid, persuasive, elegant, sublime, where ev'ry Sense crowds to the luscious Banquet, and ev'ry nobler Faculty's imploy'd"
Metaphor in Context
COL.
My Genius fain wou'd Court superiour Blessings; those Passions are too hurrying to last; Vapours that start from a Mercurial Brain, whose wild Chimera's flush the lighter Faculties, which tir'd i'th' vain pursuit of fancy'd Pleasures; a Passion more substantial Courts our Reason, solid, persuasive, elegant, sublime, where ev'ry Sense crowds to the luscious Banquet, and ev'ry nobler Faculty's imploy'd.
L.ROD.
That Passion you describe's a sleeping Potion, a lazy, stupid, lethargy of Mind, that nums our Faculties, destroys our Reason, and to our Sex the bane of all Agreements; shou'd I whom Fortune, lavish of her store, has given the means to glut insatiate Wishes, out-vie my Sex, and Lord it o'er Mankind, constrain my rambling Pleasures, check my Liberty for an insipid Cooing sort of Life, which marry'd Fools think Heav'n, and cheat each other.
COL.
Are Love and Pleasure, Madam, so incongruous?-- Methinks the very name of Love exhilerates; meaner delights were meant but to persuade us, Toys to provoke and heighten our desires, which Love confirms and Crowns with mightier extasie.
L. ROD.
Rather all Joys expire, where Love commences; when that deluding Passion once takes root, we grow insensible, ill-bred, intollerable, neglecting Dress and Air, and Conversation, to fondle an odd Wretch, that caus'd our ruin: No, give me the outward Gallantries of Love, the Poetry, the Balls, the Serenades, where I may Laugh and Toy, and humour Apish Cringers, with secret Pride to raise my Sexes Envy, and lead pretending Fops a Faiery Dance.
My Genius fain wou'd Court superiour Blessings; those Passions are too hurrying to last; Vapours that start from a Mercurial Brain, whose wild Chimera's flush the lighter Faculties, which tir'd i'th' vain pursuit of fancy'd Pleasures; a Passion more substantial Courts our Reason, solid, persuasive, elegant, sublime, where ev'ry Sense crowds to the luscious Banquet, and ev'ry nobler Faculty's imploy'd.
L.ROD.
That Passion you describe's a sleeping Potion, a lazy, stupid, lethargy of Mind, that nums our Faculties, destroys our Reason, and to our Sex the bane of all Agreements; shou'd I whom Fortune, lavish of her store, has given the means to glut insatiate Wishes, out-vie my Sex, and Lord it o'er Mankind, constrain my rambling Pleasures, check my Liberty for an insipid Cooing sort of Life, which marry'd Fools think Heav'n, and cheat each other.
COL.
Are Love and Pleasure, Madam, so incongruous?-- Methinks the very name of Love exhilerates; meaner delights were meant but to persuade us, Toys to provoke and heighten our desires, which Love confirms and Crowns with mightier extasie.
L. ROD.
Rather all Joys expire, where Love commences; when that deluding Passion once takes root, we grow insensible, ill-bred, intollerable, neglecting Dress and Air, and Conversation, to fondle an odd Wretch, that caus'd our ruin: No, give me the outward Gallantries of Love, the Poetry, the Balls, the Serenades, where I may Laugh and Toy, and humour Apish Cringers, with secret Pride to raise my Sexes Envy, and lead pretending Fops a Faiery Dance.
Categories
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Drama); found again "reason" and "crowd"
Citation
First performed December 14, 1708. Only 1 entry in ESTC (1708).
See The fine lady’s airs: Or, An equipage of lovers. A comedy. As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. Written by the author of the Yeoman of Kent. (London: Printed for Bernard Lintott at the Cross-Keys, between the Two Temple Gates in Fleetstreet, [1708?]). <Link to ESTC>
See The fine lady’s airs: Or, An equipage of lovers. A comedy. As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. Written by the author of the Yeoman of Kent. (London: Printed for Bernard Lintott at the Cross-Keys, between the Two Temple Gates in Fleetstreet, [1708?]). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
11/10/2004
