"Can Kings the Empire of the Soul invade?"
— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by W. Botham, for James Knapton
Date
1723
Metaphor
"Can Kings the Empire of the Soul invade?"
Metaphor in Context
Now did the Monarch, fierce Sedition's Fire
Subdu'd, to fair Parthenope retire,
Where he dismiss'd the Ministers of State
Who had incurr'd the People's general Hate.
Dora the Pontiff, who abus'd his Trust,
From his high Station was excluded first;
And all the novel Modes and Rites divine
Obtruded on the Nation with Design
To change Religion, by the ruling Priest
Who Pow'r ill us'd, the Sov'reign soon dismist.
While all condemn'd the Pontiff's barb'rous Course,
That would new Rites impose and Conscience force,
Justly; can Arms o'er Reason Conquests win,
And triumph o'er the awful Judge within?
Do bloody Troops in Casuistry excell?
Can Lictors able in Dispute dispell
The Clouds of Errour that involve the Mind,
And by enlight'ning Pains restore the Blind?
Can Scourges argue, or the Rack persuade?
Can Kings the Empire of the Soul invade?
No, Let them first draw Armies in Array
Along the Shore, and bid the Ocean stay
His rushing Tides, the driving Storm restrain,
And stop the rolling Sands on Libya's Plain;
That done, the Tyrant may to Conscience say
Rebel submit, and my Decrees obey.
Subdu'd, to fair Parthenope retire,
Where he dismiss'd the Ministers of State
Who had incurr'd the People's general Hate.
Dora the Pontiff, who abus'd his Trust,
From his high Station was excluded first;
And all the novel Modes and Rites divine
Obtruded on the Nation with Design
To change Religion, by the ruling Priest
Who Pow'r ill us'd, the Sov'reign soon dismist.
While all condemn'd the Pontiff's barb'rous Course,
That would new Rites impose and Conscience force,
Justly; can Arms o'er Reason Conquests win,
And triumph o'er the awful Judge within?
Do bloody Troops in Casuistry excell?
Can Lictors able in Dispute dispell
The Clouds of Errour that involve the Mind,
And by enlight'ning Pains restore the Blind?
Can Scourges argue, or the Rack persuade?
Can Kings the Empire of the Soul invade?
No, Let them first draw Armies in Array
Along the Shore, and bid the Ocean stay
His rushing Tides, the driving Storm restrain,
And stop the rolling Sands on Libya's Plain;
That done, the Tyrant may to Conscience say
Rebel submit, and my Decrees obey.
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
