"He seemed therefore confident, that instead of Reason, we were only possessed of some Quality fitted to increase our natural Vices; as the Reflection from a troubled Stream returns the Image of an ill-shapen Body, not only larger, but more distorted."
— Swift, Jonathan (1667-1745)
Author
Place of Publication
Dublin
Publisher
Printed by and for George Faulkner
Date
1735
Metaphor
"He seemed therefore confident, that instead of Reason, we were only possessed of some Quality fitted to increase our natural Vices; as the Reflection from a troubled Stream returns the Image of an ill-shapen Body, not only larger, but more distorted."
Metaphor in Context
I was going on to more Particulars, when my Master commanded me Silence. He said, whoever understood the Nature of Yahoos might easily believe it possible for so vile an Animal, to be capable of every Action I had named, if their Strength and Cunning equalled their Malice. But, as my Discourse had increased his Abhorrence of the whole Species, so he found it gave him a Disturbance in his Mind, to which he was wholly a Stranger before. He thought his Ears being used to such abominable Words, might by Degrees admit them with less Detestation. That, although he hated the Yahoos of this Country, yet he no more blamed them for their odious Qualities, than he did a Gnnayh (a Bird of Prey) for its Cruelty, or a sharp Stone for cutting his Hoof. But, when a Creature pretending to Reason, could be capable of such Enormities, he dreaded lest the Corruption of that Faculty might be worse than Brutality itself. He seemed therefore confident, that instead of Reason, we were only possessed of some Quality fitted to increase our natural Vices; as the Reflection from a troubled Stream returns the Image of an ill-shapen Body, not only larger, but more distorted.
Categories
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Prose); found again reading
Citation
A revised edition (the "Faulkner Edition"). Over 47 entries in ESTC (1726, 1727, 1731, 1735, 1738, 1742, 1743, 1747, 1748, 1750, 1751, 1752, 1756, 1757, 1758, 1759, 1760, 1764, 1765, 1767, 1770, 1774, 1775, 1776, 1780, 1782, 1787, 1792, 1793, 1798, 1800).
Text from The Works of J.S, D.D, D.S.P.D. in Four Volumes. Containing, I. The Author's Miscellanies in Prose. II. His Poetical Writings (Dublin: George Faulkner, 1735). Volume III, contains the revised edition of Gulliver's Travels. <Link to ECCO>
Text from The Works of J.S, D.D, D.S.P.D. in Four Volumes. Containing, I. The Author's Miscellanies in Prose. II. His Poetical Writings (Dublin: George Faulkner, 1735). Volume III, contains the revised edition of Gulliver's Travels. <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
03/06/2006
