"Sees Law and Reason's empire to the skies, / On the firm base of British freedom, rise."
— Pye, Henry James (1745-1813)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by W. Bulmer
Date
1798
Metaphor
"Sees Law and Reason's empire to the skies, / On the firm base of British freedom, rise."
Metaphor in Context
Here must we pause--for as the Muse surveys
The scenes this wondrous theatre displays,
And careful weighs with contemplative mind
Their vast and varied influence o'er mankind;
She doubts, if to applaud or curse the hour
That gave it up to European power.
Now rush upon her thoughts, in crimson flood
Horrid and deep, the seas of guiltless blood
Through which Iberia's sons remorseless wade
To reap the fruits of avaricious trade.
Fell Persecution with infernal aim,
Arm'd with destructive steel and torturing flame,
Wild o'er the fields in frantic mood who trod,
Hell's work performing in the name of God.--
Oppression pale, whose iron chain confines
The wretched native to the noisome mines,
Till (wasted or destroy'd, the feeble train)
By shameless traffic wafted o'er the main,
A hardier race from Afric's burning skies
The failing mart of slavery supplies,
Doom'd to explore the silver's ductile vein,
Or, faint and breathless, on the sultry plain
For luxury's pall'd taste fresh banquets rear,
Manur'd by blood, and wet with Misery's tear.--
And now, in fairer prospect on her sight
Beam brighter scenes, and visions of delight;
She sees through every wild uncultur'd grove,
Her kindred arts and sister graces rove;
Sees the barbarian's rude and stubborn mind
By seraph Mercy's gentler sway refin'd;
Sees pure Religion's mild persuasive power
Wide o'er the Western world its influence shower,
Sees Law and Reason's empire to the skies,
On the firm base of British freedom, rise.
(ll. 252-285, pp. 34-5)
The scenes this wondrous theatre displays,
And careful weighs with contemplative mind
Their vast and varied influence o'er mankind;
She doubts, if to applaud or curse the hour
That gave it up to European power.
Now rush upon her thoughts, in crimson flood
Horrid and deep, the seas of guiltless blood
Through which Iberia's sons remorseless wade
To reap the fruits of avaricious trade.
Fell Persecution with infernal aim,
Arm'd with destructive steel and torturing flame,
Wild o'er the fields in frantic mood who trod,
Hell's work performing in the name of God.--
Oppression pale, whose iron chain confines
The wretched native to the noisome mines,
Till (wasted or destroy'd, the feeble train)
By shameless traffic wafted o'er the main,
A hardier race from Afric's burning skies
The failing mart of slavery supplies,
Doom'd to explore the silver's ductile vein,
Or, faint and breathless, on the sultry plain
For luxury's pall'd taste fresh banquets rear,
Manur'd by blood, and wet with Misery's tear.--
And now, in fairer prospect on her sight
Beam brighter scenes, and visions of delight;
She sees through every wild uncultur'd grove,
Her kindred arts and sister graces rove;
Sees the barbarian's rude and stubborn mind
By seraph Mercy's gentler sway refin'd;
Sees pure Religion's mild persuasive power
Wide o'er the Western world its influence shower,
Sees Law and Reason's empire to the skies,
On the firm base of British freedom, rise.
(ll. 252-285, pp. 34-5)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "reason" and "empire" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
2 entries in ESTC (1798, 1798).
Naucratia; or Naval Dominion. A Poem. By Henry James Pye. (London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. For George Nicol, 1798). <Link to ESTC>
Text from Henry James Pye. Naucratia; or Naval Dominion. A Poem. 2nd edition. (London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. for George Nicol, Bookseller to his Majesty, Pall-Mall, 1798). <Link to ECCO>
Naucratia; or Naval Dominion. A Poem. By Henry James Pye. (London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. For George Nicol, 1798). <Link to ESTC>
Text from Henry James Pye. Naucratia; or Naval Dominion. A Poem. 2nd edition. (London: Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. for George Nicol, Bookseller to his Majesty, Pall-Mall, 1798). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
08/16/2004
