"A Mind is a balance for thousands a year."
— Dodd, William (1729-1777)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by Dryden Leach
Date
1767
Metaphor
"A Mind is a balance for thousands a year."
Metaphor in Context
"Hold, Thomas, said William, too fast you proceed,
"You take but one side of the question indeed:
"Suppose me of power to say to yourself,
"Here, presto, Sir Murmurer, change with that elf:
"Give to him, what I gave you, Refinement of Soul,
"Sense, Feeling, Discernment, Wit, Taste,--quit the whole:
"In an instant, come take his ten thousands,--vile pence--
"Be him, such a dolt, without Feeling or Sense."
You hesitate, Tom--"My good friend, he reply'd,
"I feel, I am wrong; you have truth on your side:
"The Deity, henceforth, I'll thank and revere--
"A Mind is a balance for thousands a year."
"You take but one side of the question indeed:
"Suppose me of power to say to yourself,
"Here, presto, Sir Murmurer, change with that elf:
"Give to him, what I gave you, Refinement of Soul,
"Sense, Feeling, Discernment, Wit, Taste,--quit the whole:
"In an instant, come take his ten thousands,--vile pence--
"Be him, such a dolt, without Feeling or Sense."
You hesitate, Tom--"My good friend, he reply'd,
"I feel, I am wrong; you have truth on your side:
"The Deity, henceforth, I'll thank and revere--
"A Mind is a balance for thousands a year."
Categories
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "steel" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
William Dodd, Poems, by Dr. Dodd (London: Printed by Dryden Leach, 1767). <Link to Google Books>
Date of Entry
06/09/2005
