"My heart is pregnant, and my soul on fire"
— Blacklock, Thomas (1721-1791)
Date
1756, 1793
Metaphor
"My heart is pregnant, and my soul on fire"
Metaphor in Context
Our friend, the Doctor, view'd with deep regret,
My sad catastrophé, my lifeless state;
Explor'd each ancient sage, whose labours tell
The force of powerful herb, or magic spell.
Physic in vain its boasted influence try'd;
My stupor incantation's voice defy'd:
No charm could light my fancy's languid flame,
No charm but friendship's voice and Spence's name.
So from the cold embraces of the tomb,
Involv'd in deep impenetrable gloom,
Should heav'n's great mandate bid some wretch arise,
How would he view the sun with ravish'd eyes;
Admire each part of nature's beauteous scene,
And welcome life and happiness again!
Amaz'd the Doctor stood, and lost in thought,
Nor could believe the wonder he had wrought;
Till, fir'd at last with sacerdotal pride,
"'Tis mine;--the work is all my own," he cried.
"Henceforth some nobler task my might shall prove,
"I mean some lofty mountain to remove,
"With woods and fountains bid it wing its way
"Thro' yielding air and settle in the sea."
But recollecting, whence the virtue flow'd
To which returning life and sense I ow'd,
He snatch'd his pen, and with majestic tone;
"Hence Indolence and Sloth," he cry'd, "be gone;
"Me Friendship's spirit, Spence's name inspire,
"My heart is pregnant, and my soul on fire;
"Thought crowds on thought, my brisk ideas flow,
"And much I long to tell, and much to know."
My sad catastrophé, my lifeless state;
Explor'd each ancient sage, whose labours tell
The force of powerful herb, or magic spell.
Physic in vain its boasted influence try'd;
My stupor incantation's voice defy'd:
No charm could light my fancy's languid flame,
No charm but friendship's voice and Spence's name.
So from the cold embraces of the tomb,
Involv'd in deep impenetrable gloom,
Should heav'n's great mandate bid some wretch arise,
How would he view the sun with ravish'd eyes;
Admire each part of nature's beauteous scene,
And welcome life and happiness again!
Amaz'd the Doctor stood, and lost in thought,
Nor could believe the wonder he had wrought;
Till, fir'd at last with sacerdotal pride,
"'Tis mine;--the work is all my own," he cried.
"Henceforth some nobler task my might shall prove,
"I mean some lofty mountain to remove,
"With woods and fountains bid it wing its way
"Thro' yielding air and settle in the sea."
But recollecting, whence the virtue flow'd
To which returning life and sense I ow'd,
He snatch'd his pen, and with majestic tone;
"Hence Indolence and Sloth," he cry'd, "be gone;
"Me Friendship's spirit, Spence's name inspire,
"My heart is pregnant, and my soul on fire;
"Thought crowds on thought, my brisk ideas flow,
"And much I long to tell, and much to know."
Categories
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
At least 4 entries in ESTC (1756, 1793).
See Poems by Mr. Thomas Blacklock. To which is Prefix'd, An Account of the Life, Character, and Writings, of the Author, By the Reverend Mr. Spence, Late Professor of Poetry, at Oxford. (London: Printed for the author, by R. and J. Dodsley, in Pallmall, 1756). <Link to ECCO>
Text from Poems by the Late Reverend Dr. Thomas Blacklock; Together With an Essay on the Education of the Blind. To Which Is Prefixed a New Account of the Life and Writings of the Author. (Edinburgh: Printed by Alexander Chapman and Company; sold by W. Creech, Edinburgh, and T. Cadell, London, 1793). <Link to ESTC>
See Poems by Mr. Thomas Blacklock. To which is Prefix'd, An Account of the Life, Character, and Writings, of the Author, By the Reverend Mr. Spence, Late Professor of Poetry, at Oxford. (London: Printed for the author, by R. and J. Dodsley, in Pallmall, 1756). <Link to ECCO>
Text from Poems by the Late Reverend Dr. Thomas Blacklock; Together With an Essay on the Education of the Blind. To Which Is Prefixed a New Account of the Life and Writings of the Author. (Edinburgh: Printed by Alexander Chapman and Company; sold by W. Creech, Edinburgh, and T. Cadell, London, 1793). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
03/07/2006
