"What glittering adders lurk to sting the mind!"
— Richardson, Joseph (1755-1803)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Ridgeway [etc.]
Date
1788
Metaphor
"What glittering adders lurk to sting the mind!"
Metaphor in Context
Thus mouru'd the youth--'till sunk in pensive grief,
He woo'd his handkerchief for soft relief;
In either pocket, either hand he threw;
When lo! from each a precious tablet flew.
Thus--his sage patron's wond'rous speech on trade!
This--his own book of sarcasms, ready made!
Tremendous book!--thou motley magazine
Of stole severities, and pilter'd spleen!
Oh! rich in ill!--within thy leaves entwin'd,
What glittering adders lurk to sting the mind!
Satire's Museum--with Sir Ashton's lore,
The Naturalist of malice, eyes thy store;
Ranging with fell Virtu his poisonous tribes
Of embryo sneers, and animalcule gibes.
Here insect puns their feeble wings expand,
To speed, in little flights, their Lord's command;
There, in their paper chrysalis, he sees,
Specks of bon mots, and eggs of repartees.
In modern spirit ancient wit he steeps;
If not its gloss, the reptile's venom keeps:
Thy quaintness, Dunning;--but without thy sense,
And just enough of Bearcroft, for offence.
He woo'd his handkerchief for soft relief;
In either pocket, either hand he threw;
When lo! from each a precious tablet flew.
Thus--his sage patron's wond'rous speech on trade!
This--his own book of sarcasms, ready made!
Tremendous book!--thou motley magazine
Of stole severities, and pilter'd spleen!
Oh! rich in ill!--within thy leaves entwin'd,
What glittering adders lurk to sting the mind!
Satire's Museum--with Sir Ashton's lore,
The Naturalist of malice, eyes thy store;
Ranging with fell Virtu his poisonous tribes
Of embryo sneers, and animalcule gibes.
Here insect puns their feeble wings expand,
To speed, in little flights, their Lord's command;
There, in their paper chrysalis, he sees,
Specks of bon mots, and eggs of repartees.
In modern spirit ancient wit he steeps;
If not its gloss, the reptile's venom keeps:
Thy quaintness, Dunning;--but without thy sense,
And just enough of Bearcroft, for offence.
Categories
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry)
Date of Entry
01/24/2006
