"When Moles appear upon the Skin," astrologers and magicians claim, "all the Passions may, within, / Be thro' the Sable Mirrours seen."
— Gould, Robert (b. 1660?, d. in or before 1709)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for W. Lewis
Date
1709
Metaphor
"When Moles appear upon the Skin," astrologers and magicians claim, "all the Passions may, within, / Be thro' the Sable Mirrours seen."
Metaphor in Context
With these you equally despise
The Sots that pore upon the Skies,
Egregiously to Calculate
The Good or Evil Fate
Of Fools--and worse--of Women's Destinies.
When such a One may 'scape be'ing hang'd, or drown'd,
To which he's wickedly presum'd
By Heav'nly Influence to be doom'd;
And had th'untimely End without their warning found.
When a lost Lover will again return,
By Incantations read, and Sigils worn,
And humbly at the Virgin's Feet his past Presumption mourn.
If Marriage will disaste'rous grow,
And sink into Domestick Jars;
When the most common Fool may know,
Without th'Assistance of the Stars,
'Twill certainly do so.
When Comets hang aloft in Air,
With swinging Tails and blazing Hair,
To what Part of the threatn'd World
The fatal Influ'ence will be hurl'd
In Schism, Faction, Famine, Plague and War.
When Moles appear upon the Skin,
How all the Passions may, within,
Be thro' the Sable Mirrours seen;
Whether the Bearer's Prudent, Brave, or Just,
The Friend of Bacchus, or the Child of Lust.
What all our Senseless Dreams import,
Drest in a Thousand various Shapes,
Centaures, Chimæras, Bulls and Apes,
When Fancy is dispos'd her Airyship to Sport.
The Sots that pore upon the Skies,
Egregiously to Calculate
The Good or Evil Fate
Of Fools--and worse--of Women's Destinies.
When such a One may 'scape be'ing hang'd, or drown'd,
To which he's wickedly presum'd
By Heav'nly Influence to be doom'd;
And had th'untimely End without their warning found.
When a lost Lover will again return,
By Incantations read, and Sigils worn,
And humbly at the Virgin's Feet his past Presumption mourn.
If Marriage will disaste'rous grow,
And sink into Domestick Jars;
When the most common Fool may know,
Without th'Assistance of the Stars,
'Twill certainly do so.
When Comets hang aloft in Air,
With swinging Tails and blazing Hair,
To what Part of the threatn'd World
The fatal Influ'ence will be hurl'd
In Schism, Faction, Famine, Plague and War.
When Moles appear upon the Skin,
How all the Passions may, within,
Be thro' the Sable Mirrours seen;
Whether the Bearer's Prudent, Brave, or Just,
The Friend of Bacchus, or the Child of Lust.
What all our Senseless Dreams import,
Drest in a Thousand various Shapes,
Centaures, Chimæras, Bulls and Apes,
When Fancy is dispos'd her Airyship to Sport.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "passion" and "mirrour" ("mirror") in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
The Works of Mr. Robert Gould: In Two Volumes. Consisting of those Poems and Satyrs Which were formerly Printed, and Corrected since by the Author; As also of the many more which He Design'd for the Press. Publish'd from his Own Original Copies (London: W. Lewis, 1709). <Link to ECCO>
Theme
Physiognomy
Date of Entry
11/30/2005
