"But if Calista's perfect Soul they knew, / They'd own their Error, and her Praise pursue. / Centred in her the brightest Graces meet, / Treasures of Knowledge and rich Mines of Wit
— Masters, Mary (1694-1771)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by T. Browne
Date
1733
Metaphor
"But if Calista's perfect Soul they knew, / They'd own their Error, and her Praise pursue. / Centred in her the brightest Graces meet, / Treasures of Knowledge and rich Mines of Wit
Metaphor in Context
Swell'd with vain Learning, vainer Man conceives,
That 'tis with him the bright Minerva lives;
That she descends to dwell with him alone,
And in his Breast erects her starry Throne:
Pleas'd with his own, to Female Reason blind,
Fansys all Wisdom in his Sex confin'd.
Proudly they boast of Philosophick Rules,
Of Modes and Maxims taught in various Schools,
And look on Women as a Race of Fools.
But if Calista's perfect Soul they knew,
They'd own their Error, and her Praise pursue.
Centred in her the brightest Graces meet,
Treasures of Knowledge and rich Mines of Wit.
Her Thoughts are beautiful, refin'd and new,
Polish'd her Language, and her Judgment true;
Each Word deliver'd with that soft address,
That as she speaks the melting Sounds we bless.
O! could I praise her without doing wrong,
Could to the Subject raise my daring Song;
Were I enrich'd with Prior's Golden Vein,
Her would I sing in an exalted Strain;
Her Merit in the noblest Verse proclaim,
And raise my own upon Calista's Fame:
Her elevated Sense, her Voice, her Mien,
Her innate Goodness, and her Air serene,
Should in my Lays to future Ages shine,
And some new Charm appear in ev'ry Line.
That 'tis with him the bright Minerva lives;
That she descends to dwell with him alone,
And in his Breast erects her starry Throne:
Pleas'd with his own, to Female Reason blind,
Fansys all Wisdom in his Sex confin'd.
Proudly they boast of Philosophick Rules,
Of Modes and Maxims taught in various Schools,
And look on Women as a Race of Fools.
But if Calista's perfect Soul they knew,
They'd own their Error, and her Praise pursue.
Centred in her the brightest Graces meet,
Treasures of Knowledge and rich Mines of Wit.
Her Thoughts are beautiful, refin'd and new,
Polish'd her Language, and her Judgment true;
Each Word deliver'd with that soft address,
That as she speaks the melting Sounds we bless.
O! could I praise her without doing wrong,
Could to the Subject raise my daring Song;
Were I enrich'd with Prior's Golden Vein,
Her would I sing in an exalted Strain;
Her Merit in the noblest Verse proclaim,
And raise my own upon Calista's Fame:
Her elevated Sense, her Voice, her Mien,
Her innate Goodness, and her Air serene,
Should in my Lays to future Ages shine,
And some new Charm appear in ev'ry Line.
Categories
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Only 1 entry in ESTC (1733).
See Poems on Several Occasions. By Mary Masters. (London: Printed by T. Browne, for the author, 1733). <Link to ESTC>
See Poems on Several Occasions. By Mary Masters. (London: Printed by T. Browne, for the author, 1733). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
07/20/2004
