"Enormous Bacchanalian Pleasures, loose / Milesian Feasts and Luxury in Use / Among abandon'd Sibarites, were dear / To all the Natives sunk in Riot here, / As they to brutal Instincts had resign'd / Celestial Reason's Empire of the Mind."
— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by W. Botham, for James Knapton
Date
1723
Metaphor
"Enormous Bacchanalian Pleasures, loose / Milesian Feasts and Luxury in Use / Among abandon'd Sibarites, were dear / To all the Natives sunk in Riot here, / As they to brutal Instincts had resign'd / Celestial Reason's Empire of the Mind."
Metaphor in Context
Enormous Bacchanalian Pleasures, loose
Milesian Feasts and Luxury in Use
Among abandon'd Sibarites, were dear
To all the Natives sunk in Riot here,
As they to brutal Instincts had resign'd
Celestial Reason's Empire of the Mind.
Their Brows adorn'd with parti-colour'd Flow'rs,
They revel now in odorif'rous Bow'rs,
Now in the verdant Meadows sing and dance,
Or on the Stream in gilded Boats advance.
On endless Mirth and wild Excess intent,
Their Limbs unactive, and their Souls unbent,
Mindless, they all domestick Cares disband,
Forget to plant the Grove, or sow the Land:
Commerce and publick Business of the State
With like Reluctance they decline, and hate
Charges of Weight, and each important Task,
That Thought, Concern, and Application ask.
(pp. 191-2)
Milesian Feasts and Luxury in Use
Among abandon'd Sibarites, were dear
To all the Natives sunk in Riot here,
As they to brutal Instincts had resign'd
Celestial Reason's Empire of the Mind.
Their Brows adorn'd with parti-colour'd Flow'rs,
They revel now in odorif'rous Bow'rs,
Now in the verdant Meadows sing and dance,
Or on the Stream in gilded Boats advance.
On endless Mirth and wild Excess intent,
Their Limbs unactive, and their Souls unbent,
Mindless, they all domestick Cares disband,
Forget to plant the Grove, or sow the Land:
Commerce and publick Business of the State
With like Reluctance they decline, and hate
Charges of Weight, and each important Task,
That Thought, Concern, and Application ask.
(pp. 191-2)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "empire" and "mind" in HDIS (Poetry); Found again searching "reason" and "empire" (8/16/2004)
Citation
Only 1 entry in ESTC (1723).
Richard Blackmore, Alfred. An Epick Poem. In Twelve Books (London: Printed by W. Botham, for James Knapton, 1723). <Link to ECCO><Link to LION>
Richard Blackmore, Alfred. An Epick Poem. In Twelve Books (London: Printed by W. Botham, for James Knapton, 1723). <Link to ECCO><Link to LION>
Date of Entry
08/10/2004
Date of Review
01/10/2012
