"Do thou O Tablet, either both, or nothing; either let thy words and sense go together, or be thy bosom a rasa tabula."
— Warburton, William (1698-1779)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. and R. Tonson, C. Corbet, H. Woodfall, J. Rivington, R. Baldwin [and 6 others in London]
Date
1765
Metaphor
"Do thou O Tablet, either both, or nothing; either let thy words and sense go together, or be thy bosom a rasa tabula."
Metaphor in Context
'Tis still a dream; or else such stuff, as madmen
tongue, and brain not: either both, or nothing;
Or senseless speaking, or a speaking such
As sense cannot untie.--]
The obscurity of this passage arises from part of it being spoke of the prophesy, and part to it. This writing on the Tablet (says he) is still a dream, or else the raving of madness. Do thou O Tablet, either both, or nothing; either let thy words and sense go together, or be thy bosom a rasa tabula.
As the words now stand they are nonsense, or at least involve in them a sense which I cannot develope.
WARBURTON.
(p. 381n)
tongue, and brain not: either both, or nothing;
Or senseless speaking, or a speaking such
As sense cannot untie.--]
The obscurity of this passage arises from part of it being spoke of the prophesy, and part to it. This writing on the Tablet (says he) is still a dream, or else the raving of madness. Do thou O Tablet, either both, or nothing; either let thy words and sense go together, or be thy bosom a rasa tabula.
As the words now stand they are nonsense, or at least involve in them a sense which I cannot develope.
WARBURTON.
(p. 381n)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "tabula rasa" in ECCO
Citation
The Plays of William Shakespeare, in Eight Volumes, With the Corrections and Illustrations of Various Commentators; to Which Are Added Notes by Sam. Johnson (London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson, C. Corbet, H. Woodfall, J. Rivington, R. Baldwin, 1765).
Theme
Blank Slate
Date of Entry
10/13/2006
