One can "wage war" on his own heart and "conquer it, or perish"
— Brooke, Henry (c. 1703-1783)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for the Editor
Date
1792
Metaphor
One can "wage war" on his own heart and "conquer it, or perish"
Metaphor in Context
Upon a stated festival, the chiefs
And princes of the land, with princely dames,
Convened, a galaxy!--I too was there;
And there was Eliphene, as the star
Of beauty, regent, midst the smaller sparklers!
With fond attraction she compell'd me to her,
As the touch'd needle to the frozen north;
For so I did misdeem it.--From that day,
Amidst the noblest of her princely suitors,
I too preferr'd my claim.--She first receiv'd me
With smiling, kind, encouraging complacence:
But soon her looks grew more constrain'd--whene'er
Her eyes met mine, she blush'd and turn'd aside,
As wishing to avoid me.--To all others,
She look'd an elegance of ease, and spoke
In terms as free as air--to me, her speech,
Unfrequent, was abrupt and cautious.--Stung
With scorpion'd jealousy, I, to my soul,
Thus spoke indignant--"What have these to boast,
"These favour'd rivals, o'er rejected Hugon!
"Does their pre-eminence consist in shape,
"Or feature?--eyes, that are not Eliphene's,
"Will answer, No.--And, as to feats of prowess,
"Compared with me, they're nameless!--O shame, shame,
"Shame on this weakness, this degrading passion!
"Henceforth, I will wage war on my own heart--
"And conquer it, or perish!"
And princes of the land, with princely dames,
Convened, a galaxy!--I too was there;
And there was Eliphene, as the star
Of beauty, regent, midst the smaller sparklers!
With fond attraction she compell'd me to her,
As the touch'd needle to the frozen north;
For so I did misdeem it.--From that day,
Amidst the noblest of her princely suitors,
I too preferr'd my claim.--She first receiv'd me
With smiling, kind, encouraging complacence:
But soon her looks grew more constrain'd--whene'er
Her eyes met mine, she blush'd and turn'd aside,
As wishing to avoid me.--To all others,
She look'd an elegance of ease, and spoke
In terms as free as air--to me, her speech,
Unfrequent, was abrupt and cautious.--Stung
With scorpion'd jealousy, I, to my soul,
Thus spoke indignant--"What have these to boast,
"These favour'd rivals, o'er rejected Hugon!
"Does their pre-eminence consist in shape,
"Or feature?--eyes, that are not Eliphene's,
"Will answer, No.--And, as to feats of prowess,
"Compared with me, they're nameless!--O shame, shame,
"Shame on this weakness, this degrading passion!
"Henceforth, I will wage war on my own heart--
"And conquer it, or perish!"
Categories
Provenance
Searching "conque" and "heart" in HDIS (Poetry)
Date of Entry
02/09/2005
