"Passions impatient of the Rein, disown / Reason's Dominion, and usurp her Throne."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Sam. Buckley
Date
1711
Metaphor
"Passions impatient of the Rein, disown / Reason's Dominion, and usurp her Throne."
Metaphor in Context
See, how of Hydra-Race this odious Fiend,
While pois'nous Ferments all her Veins distend,
Erects her dreadful Crest, and threatning shakes
Her Monster Heads, and Twists of hissing Snakes:
Expands her cruel Jaws, and fierce exerts
Her forked Tongues, and throws malignant Darts.
From Town to Town, behold, the Terror flies,
With large unfeather'd Wings, and with her Cries
And horrid Uproar fills the suff'ring Skies.
Th' infernal Guest, where'er she comes, inspires
The People's Breasts with fierce Phrenetick Fires.
Hence spiteful Envy, and invective Spleen,
Open Revenge, or Hate conceal'd within,
Passions impatient of the Rein, disown
Reason's Dominion, and usurp her Throne.

As Seeds of Torment, and contagious Death,
Spring from her fatal Aspect; so her Breath
Creates outrageous Storms, which rushing shake
The strongest Empires, and their Pillars break.
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
At least 2 entries in the ESTC (1711, 1720)

Richard Blackmore, The Nature of Man. A Poem. In Three Books. (London: Sam. Buckley, 1711). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
07/14/2004
Date of Review
07/01/2012

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.