"Their ruling Passion Want of Gold supplies, / To that alone they offer Sacrifice; / The Thirst of Gold was first the guilty Source / Of our Misfortunes, and their bloody Force."
— Whyte, Samuel (1733-1811) [Editor]
Date
1772
Metaphor
"Their ruling Passion Want of Gold supplies, / To that alone they offer Sacrifice; / The Thirst of Gold was first the guilty Source / Of our Misfortunes, and their bloody Force."
Metaphor in Context
Now, by Degrees, the parti-colour'd Blue
Of both our Loves the faithful Painting drew,
When, on a sudden, a tumultuous Sound
Awak'd my Thoughts; the Temple shook around:
Then was my warm Imagination fir'd
With what my Tenderness for you inspir'd;
Trembling with Hope, impatient I await
The Ynca's Office, to unite our Fate;
Thy manly Beauties all my Thoughts employ;
Fearless, I spring to meet my coming Joy.
But, ah! what different horrid Scenes appear!
The sad Remembrance fills my Soul with Fear;
The Temple Pavement stain'd with human Gore;
And the Sun's Image prostrate on the Floor;
Our frighted Virgins from the Murderers fly;
And helpless Mamas, struck with Thunder, die.
Trembling, I sought the Temple's deep Recess;
But there no Shelter found for my Distress.
Can'st thou believe it?--these unhallow'd Bands
On the Sun's Daughter urg'd their impious Hands;
Their frantic Rage the Sun himself disdain'd,
Nor fear'd due Vengeance from his Rites prophan'd;
Their ruling Passion Want of Gold supplies,
To that alone they offer Sacrifice;
The Thirst of Gold was first the guilty Source
Of our Misfortunes, and their bloody Force.
Of both our Loves the faithful Painting drew,
When, on a sudden, a tumultuous Sound
Awak'd my Thoughts; the Temple shook around:
Then was my warm Imagination fir'd
With what my Tenderness for you inspir'd;
Trembling with Hope, impatient I await
The Ynca's Office, to unite our Fate;
Thy manly Beauties all my Thoughts employ;
Fearless, I spring to meet my coming Joy.
But, ah! what different horrid Scenes appear!
The sad Remembrance fills my Soul with Fear;
The Temple Pavement stain'd with human Gore;
And the Sun's Image prostrate on the Floor;
Our frighted Virgins from the Murderers fly;
And helpless Mamas, struck with Thunder, die.
Trembling, I sought the Temple's deep Recess;
But there no Shelter found for my Distress.
Can'st thou believe it?--these unhallow'd Bands
On the Sun's Daughter urg'd their impious Hands;
Their frantic Rage the Sun himself disdain'd,
Nor fear'd due Vengeance from his Rites prophan'd;
Their ruling Passion Want of Gold supplies,
To that alone they offer Sacrifice;
The Thirst of Gold was first the guilty Source
Of our Misfortunes, and their bloody Force.
Provenance
Searching HDIS for "ruling passion"
Citation
5 entries in the ESTC (1772, 1773, 1774, 1782).
See The Shamrock: or, Hibernian Cresses. A Collection of Poems, Songs, Epigrams, &c. Latin as well as English, The Original Production of Ireland. (Dublin: Printed by R. Marchbank, 1772). <Link to ECCO> <Link to 1774 edition in Google Books>
See The Shamrock: or, Hibernian Cresses. A Collection of Poems, Songs, Epigrams, &c. Latin as well as English, The Original Production of Ireland. (Dublin: Printed by R. Marchbank, 1772). <Link to ECCO> <Link to 1774 edition in Google Books>
Theme
Ruling Passion
Date of Entry
05/25/2004
Date of Review
01/09/2012
