"Her gentle soul's with richer treasure stor'd, / Than Indian mines, and sands, and woods afford."
— Woodhouse, James (bap. 1735, d. 1820)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for the author, and sold by Dodsley
Date
1766
Metaphor
"Her gentle soul's with richer treasure stor'd, / Than Indian mines, and sands, and woods afford."
Metaphor in Context
Then haste, beloved patron! quickly haste,
Nor lovely spring, nor life, will ever last.
Nor solitary come, but bring along,
The patroness of virtue and of song:
She, whose bright presence, dull December's day
Might metamorphose into sprightly May;
Whose virtuous manners, and whose polish'd mind,
May stand the test and mirror of mankind:
Where mortals may detect each vicious stain,
That spots the heart or taints th' ungovern'd brain;
And, closely scanning her, may clearly know,
How near perfection human virtues grow.
Her gentle soul's with richer treasure stor'd,
Than Indian mines, and sands, and woods afford.
Each art and science lodg'd in her fair breast,
With heav'n's bright caravan of virtues rest.
Her tuneful tongue with eloquence and ease,
The golden merchandize of thought conveys;
Brisk fancy wafts it with her sprightly gales,
While judgment ballasts all the swelling sails.
Thus form'd to give, and relish, social joys,
Time limps not idle, or ignobly flies,
Where she resides; but moves with chearful pace,
Conceals his glass, and smiles with youthful grace.
Her presence vice nor folly dare prophane,
But chaste delights confirm her friendly reign;
And dove-like innocence is ever by,
With artless mien, and heav'n-reflecting eye.
Thus once we saw her in this happy shade,
With ev'ry virtue, ev'ry grace array'd;
And view'd her charms with such intense delight,
Each jealous wood-nymph sicken'd at the sight,
While, here beside these consecrated streams,
Your raptur'd fancy sung enchanting themes:
Each sister grace the magic notes obey'd,
And pac'd, with measur'd steps, the chequer'd shade;
While, warbling soft, the Heliconian choir,
To strains responsive wak'd the tuneful lyre.
Again, with you, oh! would she now appear,
With new delights we'd crown the rip'ning year;
Proclaiming while she treads the blissful scene,
All hail! bright summer's celebrated queen!
Our quiv'ring leaves in canopies should meet,
And painted flow'rs surround your passing feet,
Still pave your way, and still with dying breath,
Bequeath their richest sweets, and smile in death.
We'd purge the hot and rheumy blasts that blow,
And fan pure balmy airs to you below;
Implore propitious Jove with pray'rs and vows,
In aromatic fumes, from whisp'ring boughs,
To interpose his providential pow'r,
With health, and peace, to crown each gladsome hour,
With zeal more ardent than to calm the sky,
When tempests rage, or forky lightnings fly.
Then haste, beloved Patron! quickly haste,
Nor lovely Spring, nor life, will ever last.
Nor lovely spring, nor life, will ever last.
Nor solitary come, but bring along,
The patroness of virtue and of song:
She, whose bright presence, dull December's day
Might metamorphose into sprightly May;
Whose virtuous manners, and whose polish'd mind,
May stand the test and mirror of mankind:
Where mortals may detect each vicious stain,
That spots the heart or taints th' ungovern'd brain;
And, closely scanning her, may clearly know,
How near perfection human virtues grow.
Her gentle soul's with richer treasure stor'd,
Than Indian mines, and sands, and woods afford.
Each art and science lodg'd in her fair breast,
With heav'n's bright caravan of virtues rest.
Her tuneful tongue with eloquence and ease,
The golden merchandize of thought conveys;
Brisk fancy wafts it with her sprightly gales,
While judgment ballasts all the swelling sails.
Thus form'd to give, and relish, social joys,
Time limps not idle, or ignobly flies,
Where she resides; but moves with chearful pace,
Conceals his glass, and smiles with youthful grace.
Her presence vice nor folly dare prophane,
But chaste delights confirm her friendly reign;
And dove-like innocence is ever by,
With artless mien, and heav'n-reflecting eye.
Thus once we saw her in this happy shade,
With ev'ry virtue, ev'ry grace array'd;
And view'd her charms with such intense delight,
Each jealous wood-nymph sicken'd at the sight,
While, here beside these consecrated streams,
Your raptur'd fancy sung enchanting themes:
Each sister grace the magic notes obey'd,
And pac'd, with measur'd steps, the chequer'd shade;
While, warbling soft, the Heliconian choir,
To strains responsive wak'd the tuneful lyre.
Again, with you, oh! would she now appear,
With new delights we'd crown the rip'ning year;
Proclaiming while she treads the blissful scene,
All hail! bright summer's celebrated queen!
Our quiv'ring leaves in canopies should meet,
And painted flow'rs surround your passing feet,
Still pave your way, and still with dying breath,
Bequeath their richest sweets, and smile in death.
We'd purge the hot and rheumy blasts that blow,
And fan pure balmy airs to you below;
Implore propitious Jove with pray'rs and vows,
In aromatic fumes, from whisp'ring boughs,
To interpose his providential pow'r,
With health, and peace, to crown each gladsome hour,
With zeal more ardent than to calm the sky,
When tempests rage, or forky lightnings fly.
Then haste, beloved Patron! quickly haste,
Nor lovely Spring, nor life, will ever last.
Categories
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Only 1 entry in ESTC (1766).
Poems on Several Occasions. By James Woodhouse, Journeyman Shoemaker, 2nd edition (London: Printed for the author, and sold by Dodsley, 1766). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO><Link to Hathi Trust><Link to Google Books>
Note, some poems in this edition first collected in 1764 in Poems on Sundry Occasions. Note, also, the collection published in 1788 with title Poems on Several Occasions does not contain the same poems. Cf. ESTC and Brit. Mus. Catalogue.
Text from The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse, ed. R. I. Woodhouse, 2 vols. (London: The Leadenhall Press, 1896). <Link to Hathi Trust> <Link to LION>
Poems on Several Occasions. By James Woodhouse, Journeyman Shoemaker, 2nd edition (London: Printed for the author, and sold by Dodsley, 1766). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO><Link to Hathi Trust><Link to Google Books>
Note, some poems in this edition first collected in 1764 in Poems on Sundry Occasions. Note, also, the collection published in 1788 with title Poems on Several Occasions does not contain the same poems. Cf. ESTC and Brit. Mus. Catalogue.
Text from The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse, ed. R. I. Woodhouse, 2 vols. (London: The Leadenhall Press, 1896). <Link to Hathi Trust> <Link to LION>
Date of Entry
08/09/2004
