Love may "To slighted beauty .. new powers impart: / And stretch the aided empire of the heart"
— Hill, Aaron (1685-1750)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for the Benefit of the Family
Date
1753
Metaphor
Love may "To slighted beauty .. new powers impart: / And stretch the aided empire of the heart"
Metaphor in Context
Lur'd, said the am'rous muse, from realms above,
Pleas'd, I descended on this land of love;
Look'd and approv'd: and form'd aërial schemes,
Of heart-felt tyes, and hope's elusive dreams;
Vainly propos'd--each sex by each to mend;
And smooth the rugged paths of life, with friend.
Snatch'd at one sweet example, new to fame,
Urg'd its dear pow'r, th' unhappier to reclaim:
Misguided millions hail'd th' acknowledg'd charms;
And lov'd perfection, when it bless'd thy arms.
But ah! too lost a length themselves were gone!
They worship'd, and confess'd:--but still sinn'd on.
Yet I, vain hoper! still new helps apply:
And, ever failing, wou'd forever try.
To slighted beauty wou'd new powers impart:
And stretch the aided empire of the heart.
Teach man, that woman's strength in softness lies:
Teach woman, why the modest charm the wise.
Useless to either, I from both, remove.
Money's th' inspiring muse of modish love!
O'er truth and passion, avarice prevails,
All vows are venal, and all sighs are sales.
Int'rest and vanity, and self, disarm
Mutual esteem, till neither sex can charm.
Then, blanc unnat'ral whims pervert desire:
Attraction failing, they exchange attire.
Then, man's lac'd lightness apes the lady's air:
And bluff, big, boldness, masculates the fair.
With changing sexes, love's lost motives change,
From wish to wish the short-liv'd passions range.
Recorded constancy becomes romance:
And, among millions, two may love--by chance!
Pleas'd, I descended on this land of love;
Look'd and approv'd: and form'd aërial schemes,
Of heart-felt tyes, and hope's elusive dreams;
Vainly propos'd--each sex by each to mend;
And smooth the rugged paths of life, with friend.
Snatch'd at one sweet example, new to fame,
Urg'd its dear pow'r, th' unhappier to reclaim:
Misguided millions hail'd th' acknowledg'd charms;
And lov'd perfection, when it bless'd thy arms.
But ah! too lost a length themselves were gone!
They worship'd, and confess'd:--but still sinn'd on.
Yet I, vain hoper! still new helps apply:
And, ever failing, wou'd forever try.
To slighted beauty wou'd new powers impart:
And stretch the aided empire of the heart.
Teach man, that woman's strength in softness lies:
Teach woman, why the modest charm the wise.
Useless to either, I from both, remove.
Money's th' inspiring muse of modish love!
O'er truth and passion, avarice prevails,
All vows are venal, and all sighs are sales.
Int'rest and vanity, and self, disarm
Mutual esteem, till neither sex can charm.
Then, blanc unnat'ral whims pervert desire:
Attraction failing, they exchange attire.
Then, man's lac'd lightness apes the lady's air:
And bluff, big, boldness, masculates the fair.
With changing sexes, love's lost motives change,
From wish to wish the short-liv'd passions range.
Recorded constancy becomes romance:
And, among millions, two may love--by chance!
Categories
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "empire" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
2 entries in ESTC (1753, 1754).
Text from The Works of the Late Aaron Hill, Esq; in Four Volumes. Consisting of Letters on Various Subjects, and of Original Poems, Moral and Facetious. With an Essay on the Art of Acting. (London: Printed for the benefit of the family, 1753). <Link to ESTC>
Text from The Works of the Late Aaron Hill, Esq; in Four Volumes. Consisting of Letters on Various Subjects, and of Original Poems, Moral and Facetious. With an Essay on the Art of Acting. (London: Printed for the benefit of the family, 1753). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
08/22/2004
