Shakespeare was "the Genius of our Isle, whose Mind / (The universal Mirror of Mankind) / Express'd all Images"
— Fenton, Elijah (1683-1730)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Bernard Lintot [etc.]
Date
1717
Metaphor
Shakespeare was "the Genius of our Isle, whose Mind / (The universal Mirror of Mankind) / Express'd all Images"
Metaphor in Context
Shakespear, the Genius of our Isle, whose Mind
(The universal Mirror of Mankind)
Express'd all Images, enrich'd the Stage,
But sometimes stoop'd to please a barb'rous Age.
When his immortal Bays began to grow,
Rude was the Language, and the Humour low.
He, like the God of Day, was always bright,
But rolling in its Course, his Orb of Light
Was sully'd, and obscur'd, tho' soaring high,
With Spots contracted from the nether Sky.
But whither is th' adventrous Muse betray'd?
Forgive her Rashness, venerable Shade!
May Spring with Purple Flow'rs perfume thy Urn,
And Avon with his Greens thy Grave adorn:
Be all thy Faults, whatever Faults there be,
Imputed to the Times, and not to thee.
(The universal Mirror of Mankind)
Express'd all Images, enrich'd the Stage,
But sometimes stoop'd to please a barb'rous Age.
When his immortal Bays began to grow,
Rude was the Language, and the Humour low.
He, like the God of Day, was always bright,
But rolling in its Course, his Orb of Light
Was sully'd, and obscur'd, tho' soaring high,
With Spots contracted from the nether Sky.
But whither is th' adventrous Muse betray'd?
Forgive her Rashness, venerable Shade!
May Spring with Purple Flow'rs perfume thy Urn,
And Avon with his Greens thy Grave adorn:
Be all thy Faults, whatever Faults there be,
Imputed to the Times, and not to thee.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "mind" and "mirror" in HDIS (Poetry)
Date of Entry
06/28/2005
