"Like Britain's Monarch" an audience may "act [their] generous parts, /And fix [their] empire, in [actors] greatful hearts.
— Jerningham, Edward (1727-1812)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Richard White
Date
April 17, 1795
Metaphor
"Like Britain's Monarch" an audience may "act [their] generous parts, /And fix [their] empire, in [actors] greatful hearts.
Metaphor in Context
Yet, for I feel my female fears increase,
Tho' arm'd for war, yet still I wish for peace:
We own your pow'r, confess your wond'rous sway,
Whom all our great dramatic realms obey:
No merit we can claim, till you befriend it,
Wit is not wit, unless your taste commend it:
From th' Author's anvil a mere sluggish mass;
Your plaudits stamp the coin, and bid it pass.
By your mild sentence then decide our fate:
Far better to be good than to be great!
Like Britain's Monarch, act your generous parts,
And fix your empire, in our greatful hearts.
Tho' arm'd for war, yet still I wish for peace:
We own your pow'r, confess your wond'rous sway,
Whom all our great dramatic realms obey:
No merit we can claim, till you befriend it,
Wit is not wit, unless your taste commend it:
From th' Author's anvil a mere sluggish mass;
Your plaudits stamp the coin, and bid it pass.
By your mild sentence then decide our fate:
Far better to be good than to be great!
Like Britain's Monarch, act your generous parts,
And fix your empire, in our greatful hearts.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "empire" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
At least 4 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1795, 1796, 1798).
Edward Jerningham, The Welch Heiress, a Comedy (London: Printed for Richard White, 1795). Link to ECCO>
Edward Jerningham, The Welch Heiress, a Comedy (London: Printed for Richard White, 1795). Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
08/16/2004
