"The soft impression of my brothers face, / Dwells on my heart."
— Rowe [née Singer], Elizabeth (1674-1737)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for T. Worrall
Date
1737
Metaphor
"The soft impression of my brothers face, / Dwells on my heart."
Metaphor in Context
When Reuben, who the barbarous fact disclaim'd,
In these sad terms their former malice blam'd;
Would heav'n your flowing tears might wash away
The bloody stains of that detested day;
Its horror, with eternal grief, I trace;
The soft impression of my brothers face,
Dwells on my heart, the tragick scene I view,
The mournful object is for ever new.
Methinks I see the anguish, the surprize,
The melting sorrow in his lovely eyes,
While kneeling, pleading all the tender claims
Of kindred blood, he singly call'd your names,
And one by one invok'd--what power I had
Was all employ'd, to save the guiltless lad.
His filial love, and goodness free from art,
Touch'd every tender motion in my heart,
When for his drooping father's hoary age
He try'd your soft compassion to engage:
I hear his cries, while round his suppliant hands,
Without remorse you ty'd the cruel bands;
My soul is wounded with the farewel groan,
When to the yawning pit, you forc'd him down.
In these sad terms their former malice blam'd;
Would heav'n your flowing tears might wash away
The bloody stains of that detested day;
Its horror, with eternal grief, I trace;
The soft impression of my brothers face,
Dwells on my heart, the tragick scene I view,
The mournful object is for ever new.
Methinks I see the anguish, the surprize,
The melting sorrow in his lovely eyes,
While kneeling, pleading all the tender claims
Of kindred blood, he singly call'd your names,
And one by one invok'd--what power I had
Was all employ'd, to save the guiltless lad.
His filial love, and goodness free from art,
Touch'd every tender motion in my heart,
When for his drooping father's hoary age
He try'd your soft compassion to engage:
I hear his cries, while round his suppliant hands,
Without remorse you ty'd the cruel bands;
My soul is wounded with the farewel groan,
When to the yawning pit, you forc'd him down.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "impression" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
At least 16 entries in the ESTC (1737, 1738, 1741, 1742, 1744, 1750, 1756, 1759, 1767, 1772, 1778, 1783, 1784, 1787, 1795)
Text from Elizabeth Rowe, The History of Joseph. A Poem. In Ten Books. By the Author of Friendship in Death., 2nd edition (London: Printed for T. Worrall, 1737). <Link to 4th edition in Google Books>
Text from Elizabeth Rowe, The History of Joseph. A Poem. In Ten Books. By the Author of Friendship in Death., 2nd edition (London: Printed for T. Worrall, 1737). <Link to 4th edition in Google Books>
Date of Entry
05/16/2005
