"Passion! the spring, that all life's wheels employs, / Winds up the working thought--and heightens joys."
— Hill, Aaron (1685-1750)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for the Benefit of the Family
Date
1753
Metaphor
"Passion! the spring, that all life's wheels employs, / Winds up the working thought--and heightens joys."
Metaphor in Context
Play'd, said I?--second thought that word retracts;
Fancies and follies play, but passion acts:
Passion! the spring, that all life's wheels employs,
Winds up the working thought--and heightens joys.
Passion! the great man's guide, the poor man's blame;
The soldier's lawrel, and the sigher's flame.
Passion! that leads the grave, impels the gay,
Bids the wise tremble, and the fool betray.
Ev'n at this hour, what's here our pastime made,
Gives the court business, and the kingdom, trade;
When factions quarrel, or when statesmen fall,
Each does but act his part, at passion's call.
Like our's, to night, Lord Passion sets their task;
Their fears, hopes, flatt'ries--all are passion's masque.
The world's wide stage, for this one practice, fill'd,
Sees some act, nobly, others play unskill'd.
Triflers, and smarts, who toy time's dream away,
Sots, beaux, and hounds of party, these but play.
Sons of their country's hope, sublimely, rackt,
For other's rest.--These do not play, but act.
Fancies and follies play, but passion acts:
Passion! the spring, that all life's wheels employs,
Winds up the working thought--and heightens joys.
Passion! the great man's guide, the poor man's blame;
The soldier's lawrel, and the sigher's flame.
Passion! that leads the grave, impels the gay,
Bids the wise tremble, and the fool betray.
Ev'n at this hour, what's here our pastime made,
Gives the court business, and the kingdom, trade;
When factions quarrel, or when statesmen fall,
Each does but act his part, at passion's call.
Like our's, to night, Lord Passion sets their task;
Their fears, hopes, flatt'ries--all are passion's masque.
The world's wide stage, for this one practice, fill'd,
Sees some act, nobly, others play unskill'd.
Triflers, and smarts, who toy time's dream away,
Sots, beaux, and hounds of party, these but play.
Sons of their country's hope, sublimely, rackt,
For other's rest.--These do not play, but act.
Categories
Provenance
Searching 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
04/14/2006
