"Kings of the Empire of the Soul possest, / Who sit enthron'd secure in every Breast / In Civil Strength, and Glory will encrease, / And triumph mid'st the Joys of lasting Peace."
— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by W. Botham, for James Knapton
Date
1723
Metaphor
"Kings of the Empire of the Soul possest, / Who sit enthron'd secure in every Breast / In Civil Strength, and Glory will encrease, / And triumph mid'st the Joys of lasting Peace."
Metaphor in Context
Oft I bespoke them thus--I ever saw
That Princely Virtues to Allegiance draw
More than Tribunals and coercive Law.
Justice, Indulgence, and a generous Hand,
Are the strong Guards that round a Monarch stand:
Princes are safe, while to their People dear;
Subjects are rul'd by Love, but Slaves by Fear,
Who all inviting Seasons watchful seize
To break their Yoke, and their gaul'd Shoulders ease.
Kings of the Empire of the Soul possest,
Who sit enthron'd secure in every Breast,
In Civil Strength, and Glory will encrease,
And triumph mid'st the Joys of lasting Peace:
While all in Arms with Ardour will defend
Their Country's Father, and their common Friend.
Not so the Kings, who thoughtless and supine
Revel in Empire, but the Toil decline;
Who love the Pow'r, but not the Cares of State,
Praise the Crown's Lustre, but detest its Weight.
That Princely Virtues to Allegiance draw
More than Tribunals and coercive Law.
Justice, Indulgence, and a generous Hand,
Are the strong Guards that round a Monarch stand:
Princes are safe, while to their People dear;
Subjects are rul'd by Love, but Slaves by Fear,
Who all inviting Seasons watchful seize
To break their Yoke, and their gaul'd Shoulders ease.
Kings of the Empire of the Soul possest,
Who sit enthron'd secure in every Breast,
In Civil Strength, and Glory will encrease,
And triumph mid'st the Joys of lasting Peace:
While all in Arms with Ardour will defend
Their Country's Father, and their common Friend.
Not so the Kings, who thoughtless and supine
Revel in Empire, but the Toil decline;
Who love the Pow'r, but not the Cares of State,
Praise the Crown's Lustre, but detest its Weight.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "empire" and "soul" in HDIS (Poetry)
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
08/11/2004
Date of Review
01/11/2012
