"But soon his tender Mind th' Impression felt, / As softest Metals are not slow to melt, / And Pity soonest runs in gentle Minds"
— Ogle, George (1704-1746)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. and R. Tonson [etc.]
Date
1741
Metaphor
"But soon his tender Mind th' Impression felt, / As softest Metals are not slow to melt, / And Pity soonest runs in gentle Minds"
Metaphor in Context
He paus'd a while, stood silent in his Mood,
(For yet, his Rage was boiling in his Blood)
But soon his tender Mind th' Impression felt,
(As softest Metals are not slow to melt,
And Pity soonest runs in gentle Minds:)
Then reasons with himself; and first he finds
His Passion cast a Mist before his Sense,
And either made, or magnify'd th' Offence.
Offence! of what? to whom? Who judg'd the Cause?
The Pris'ner freed himself by Nature's Laws:
Born free, he sought his Right: The Man he freed
Was perjur'd, but his Love excus'd the Deed:
Thus pond'ring, he look'd under with his Eyes,
And saw the Womens Tears, and heard their Cries;
Which mov'd Compassion more: he shook his Head,
And softly sighing, to himself he said:
(For yet, his Rage was boiling in his Blood)
But soon his tender Mind th' Impression felt,
(As softest Metals are not slow to melt,
And Pity soonest runs in gentle Minds:)
Then reasons with himself; and first he finds
His Passion cast a Mist before his Sense,
And either made, or magnify'd th' Offence.
Offence! of what? to whom? Who judg'd the Cause?
The Pris'ner freed himself by Nature's Laws:
Born free, he sought his Right: The Man he freed
Was perjur'd, but his Love excus'd the Deed:
Thus pond'ring, he look'd under with his Eyes,
And saw the Womens Tears, and heard their Cries;
Which mov'd Compassion more: he shook his Head,
And softly sighing, to himself he said:
Categories
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales of Chaucer, Modernis'd by Several Hands. Publish'd by Mr. Ogle, 3 vols. (London: J. and R. Tonson, 1741). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
05/15/2005
