A better soul "by revolution strange" may come to sit on her throne
— Hurdis, James (1763-1801)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Johnson
Date
1790
Metaphor
A better soul "by revolution strange" may come to sit on her throne
Metaphor in Context
'Ah!' he cried,
'At that dear name my sear'd wound bleeds afresh.
''Tis music that would make a savage tame.
'It overwhelms, my soul, and my fond heart,
'Convuls'd at the sweet sound, recoils and faints.
'I have two souls (such impious sophistry
'Love teaches me) which, like two mighty Kings,
'Ever contending for the sov'reignty,
'Stir up sedition and revolt within me.
'While we converse together, and I feel
'Secret correction from the bolt of truth
'Shot home, my better soul in triumph rides,
'Borne on the wings of reason to her throne.
'But when Panthea with the rebel sides,
'She comes with power not to be withstood,
'Contends with reason's self, and overturns
'The throne of her adopted. Once again
'My better soul, by revolution strange,
'Sits on her throne. O Cyrus, I am thine
'Yet wholly. To confound thy foes I fly
'With all the good-will of an honest heart,
'Which never feels itself so much at large
'As when it serves so generous a friend.'
'At that dear name my sear'd wound bleeds afresh.
''Tis music that would make a savage tame.
'It overwhelms, my soul, and my fond heart,
'Convuls'd at the sweet sound, recoils and faints.
'I have two souls (such impious sophistry
'Love teaches me) which, like two mighty Kings,
'Ever contending for the sov'reignty,
'Stir up sedition and revolt within me.
'While we converse together, and I feel
'Secret correction from the bolt of truth
'Shot home, my better soul in triumph rides,
'Borne on the wings of reason to her throne.
'But when Panthea with the rebel sides,
'She comes with power not to be withstood,
'Contends with reason's self, and overturns
'The throne of her adopted. Once again
'My better soul, by revolution strange,
'Sits on her throne. O Cyrus, I am thine
'Yet wholly. To confound thy foes I fly
'With all the good-will of an honest heart,
'Which never feels itself so much at large
'As when it serves so generous a friend.'
Provenance
Searching "throne" and "reason" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Only 1 entry in ECCO and ESTC (1790).
See James Hurdis, Poems by the Author of The Village Curate, and Adriano (London: J. Johnson, 1790). <Link to ECCO>
See James Hurdis, Poems by the Author of The Village Curate, and Adriano (London: J. Johnson, 1790). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
07/19/2004
