"So, from injected thought, shoots passion's growth; / No sprout spontaneous, no chance child, of sloth: / Idea lends it root-- firm, on touch'd minds, / Fancy, (swift planter!) first, th' impression binds; / Shap'd in conception's mould, nature's prompt skill / Bids subject nerves obey th' inspiring Will: / Strung to obsequious bend, the musc'ly frame / Stamps the shown image."
— Hill, Aaron (1685-1750)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Date
1746, 1753
Metaphor
"So, from injected thought, shoots passion's growth; / No sprout spontaneous, no chance child, of sloth: / Idea lends it root-- firm, on touch'd minds, / Fancy, (swift planter!) first, th' impression binds; / Shap'd in conception's mould, nature's prompt skill / Bids subject nerves obey th' inspiring Will: / Strung to obsequious bend, the musc'ly frame / Stamps the shown image."
Metaphor in Context
Mark, when th' expanding seed, from earth's moist bed,
Starting, at nature's call, prepares to spread;
First, the prone Root breaks downward--thence ascend
Shot stems--whose joints collateral boughs extend:
Twigs, from those boughs, lend leaves--each leaf contains
Side-less'ning stalks, transvers'd, by fibry veins.
So, from injected thought, shoots passion's growth;
No sprout spontaneous, no chance child, of sloth:
Idea lends it root-- firm, on touch'd minds,
Fancy, (swift planter!) first, th' impression binds;
Shap'd in conception's mould, nature's prompt skill
Bids subject nerves obey th' inspiring Will:
Strung to obsequious bend, the musc'ly frame
Stamps the shown image.--Pleasure, pity, shame,
Anger, grief, terror, catch th' adaptive spring,
While the eye darts it! and the accents ring.
Starting, at nature's call, prepares to spread;
First, the prone Root breaks downward--thence ascend
Shot stems--whose joints collateral boughs extend:
Twigs, from those boughs, lend leaves--each leaf contains
Side-less'ning stalks, transvers'd, by fibry veins.
So, from injected thought, shoots passion's growth;
No sprout spontaneous, no chance child, of sloth:
Idea lends it root-- firm, on touch'd minds,
Fancy, (swift planter!) first, th' impression binds;
Shap'd in conception's mould, nature's prompt skill
Bids subject nerves obey th' inspiring Will:
Strung to obsequious bend, the musc'ly frame
Stamps the shown image.--Pleasure, pity, shame,
Anger, grief, terror, catch th' adaptive spring,
While the eye darts it! and the accents ring.
Categories
Provenance
Searching HDIS (Poetry); found again reading Joseph R. Roach, The Player's Passion: Studies in the Science of Acting (Newark: University of Delaware Press, 1985), 85.
Citation
At least 4 entries in ESTC (1746, 1753, 1754, 1779).
Text from The Works of the Late Aaron Hill, 4 vols. (London: Printed for the Benefit of the Family, 1753).
Copy at Folger Library also consulted. Aaron Hill, The Art of Acting. Part 1. Deriving Rules from a New Principle, for Touching the Passions in a Natural Manner. An Essay of General Use. (London: Printed for J. Osborn, 1746).
Text from The Works of the Late Aaron Hill, 4 vols. (London: Printed for the Benefit of the Family, 1753).
Copy at Folger Library also consulted. Aaron Hill, The Art of Acting. Part 1. Deriving Rules from a New Principle, for Touching the Passions in a Natural Manner. An Essay of General Use. (London: Printed for J. Osborn, 1746).
Date of Entry
05/15/2005
Date of Review
01/13/2012
