"So, from the narrow Limits of the Heart, / The active Soul does vig'rous Life impart / To all the Limbs: it's Sway the Members own, / And wide it's Empire spreads around it's Throne."
— Baker, Henry (1698-1774)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for D. Midwinter, A Bettesworth and C. Hitch, J. and J. Pemberton, R. Ware, C. Rivington, F. Clay, J. Batley and J. Wood, A. Ward, J. and P. Knapton, T. Longman, and R. Hett
Date
1737
Metaphor
"So, from the narrow Limits of the Heart, / The active Soul does vig'rous Life impart / To all the Limbs: it's Sway the Members own, / And wide it's Empire spreads around it's Throne."
Metaphor in Context
Think not thy Power too small, too weak thy Mind,
Because it's to a little Body joyn'd:
For wondrous is it's Force:--how small a Mass
Of standard Gold exceeds vast Heaps of Brass!
How little is the Apple of the Eye!
And yet, at once, it takes in half the Sky:
How vast the Disproportion to the Sense!
The Organ small, the Object is immense.
So, from the narrow Limits of the Heart,
The active Soul does vig'rous Life impart
To all the Limbs: it's Sway the Members own,
And wide it's Empire spreads around it's Throne.
Regard thy Powers, O Man! nor heed thy Size:
In piercing Reason thy Advantage lies;
Reason that conquers all, and rules the Skies.
(II, pp. 293, 295)
[Nec contemne tuas quasi parvo in corpore vires:
Quod valet immensum est: sic auri pondera parvi,
Exuperant pretio numerosos aeris acervos.
Parvula sic totum pervisit pupula coelum:
Quodque vident oculi minimum est: cum maxima cernant:
Sic animi sedes tenui sub corde locata,
Per totum angusto regnat de limite corpus.
(II, pp. 292, 294)]
Because it's to a little Body joyn'd:
For wondrous is it's Force:--how small a Mass
Of standard Gold exceeds vast Heaps of Brass!
How little is the Apple of the Eye!
And yet, at once, it takes in half the Sky:
How vast the Disproportion to the Sense!
The Organ small, the Object is immense.
So, from the narrow Limits of the Heart,
The active Soul does vig'rous Life impart
To all the Limbs: it's Sway the Members own,
And wide it's Empire spreads around it's Throne.
Regard thy Powers, O Man! nor heed thy Size:
In piercing Reason thy Advantage lies;
Reason that conquers all, and rules the Skies.
(II, pp. 293, 295)
[Nec contemne tuas quasi parvo in corpore vires:
Quod valet immensum est: sic auri pondera parvi,
Exuperant pretio numerosos aeris acervos.
Parvula sic totum pervisit pupula coelum:
Quodque vident oculi minimum est: cum maxima cernant:
Sic animi sedes tenui sub corde locata,
Per totum angusto regnat de limite corpus.
(II, pp. 292, 294)]
Categories
Provenance
Searching HDIS (Poetry); confirmed in Google Books. Passage identified: Id. alt. Manil. Lib. IV. Id. points to Creech's translation.
Citation
2 entries in ESTC (1737).
Medulla Poetarum Romanorum: or, the Most Beautiful and Instructive Passages of the Roman Poets. Being a Collection, (Disposed Under Proper Heads,) of Such Descriptions, Allusions, Comparisons, Characters, and Sentiments, As May Best Serve to Shew the Religion, Learning, Politicks, Arts, Customs, Opinions, Manners, and Circumstances of the Antients. With Translations of the Same in English Verse. By Mr. Henry Baker. 2 vols. (London: Printed for D. Midwinter, A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch, J. and J. Pemberton, R. Ware, C. Rivington, F. Clay, J. Batley and J. Wood, A. Ward, J. and P. Knapton, T. Longman, and R. Hett, 1737). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books, Vol. I and Vol. II>
Medulla Poetarum Romanorum: or, the Most Beautiful and Instructive Passages of the Roman Poets. Being a Collection, (Disposed Under Proper Heads,) of Such Descriptions, Allusions, Comparisons, Characters, and Sentiments, As May Best Serve to Shew the Religion, Learning, Politicks, Arts, Customs, Opinions, Manners, and Circumstances of the Antients. With Translations of the Same in English Verse. By Mr. Henry Baker. 2 vols. (London: Printed for D. Midwinter, A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch, J. and J. Pemberton, R. Ware, C. Rivington, F. Clay, J. Batley and J. Wood, A. Ward, J. and P. Knapton, T. Longman, and R. Hett, 1737). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books, Vol. I and Vol. II>
Date of Entry
06/14/2004
Date of Review
01/11/2012
