Scenes of ruin may roll within the breast
— Ruffhead, James
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for the Author
Date
1746
Metaphor
Scenes of ruin may roll within the breast
Metaphor in Context
Not the fam'd beauties of Britannia's isle
Diffuse the graces of a sweeter smile,
Than fly ambition can command with ease,
Charm like a God, and like [a] Goddess please,
The soft presuasions of whose flowing tongue
Rival the music of the Siren's song,
These, Hermes-that melodious God-inspires,
And tunes them softer than th' Aonian lyres.
But when each luring art her purpose fails,
And fortune favours not her spreading sails,
Like the fierce rage of an impetuous wind
Burst forth the passions of her raving mind,
Pride swells within, pride plumes her haughty crest
And scenes of ruin-roll within her breast.
Stern majesty-darts lightning from her eyes,
And from despairs-a thousand horrors rise;
Envy-sits low'ring in her gloomy face,
And meditates her rival's sad disgrace,
Grows warm with ire, with indignation burns,
And to distraction - all the fury turns.
(pp. 3-4, in. 50-1)
Diffuse the graces of a sweeter smile,
Than fly ambition can command with ease,
Charm like a God, and like [a] Goddess please,
The soft presuasions of whose flowing tongue
Rival the music of the Siren's song,
These, Hermes-that melodious God-inspires,
And tunes them softer than th' Aonian lyres.
But when each luring art her purpose fails,
And fortune favours not her spreading sails,
Like the fierce rage of an impetuous wind
Burst forth the passions of her raving mind,
Pride swells within, pride plumes her haughty crest
And scenes of ruin-roll within her breast.
Stern majesty-darts lightning from her eyes,
And from despairs-a thousand horrors rise;
Envy-sits low'ring in her gloomy face,
And meditates her rival's sad disgrace,
Grows warm with ire, with indignation burns,
And to distraction - all the fury turns.
(pp. 3-4, in. 50-1)
Categories
Provenance
Gale's Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO).
Citation
At least 2 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1746, 1747).
James Ruffhead, The Passions of Man. A Poem. In Four Epistles (London: Printed for the Author, 1746). <Link to ECCO>
James Ruffhead, The Passions of Man. A Poem. In Four Epistles (London: Printed for the Author, 1746). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
01/06/2004
