"Well-skill'd / To form the growing soul, and on its young / And opening bud to fix the impression deep / Of every generous thought"
— Downman, Hugh (1740-1809)
Author
Date
1774-1776, 1788, 1803
Metaphor
"Well-skill'd / To form the growing soul, and on its young / And opening bud to fix the impression deep / Of every generous thought"
Metaphor in Context
How high the rank in life of Womankind!
Their station how important! Hapless he
Who lives unconscious of their worth! The Fool
Of grosser sense, or airy libertine
Who draws his judgment from the forward few,
Or yielding weak, and dares with impious tongue
Pronounce them all the slaves of vanity,
By passion ever led, by flattery won.
Their frame like our's, but with ethereal touch
More delicately limb'd. The same their souls,
More soft, more sensitive, and more refined,
Each uncontaminated Briton owns
And feels their virtues. Polishers of life!
Sweeteners of savage care! Who tune the breast
To harmony, or prompt to glorious deeds
And emulative toil. To friendship's flame,
To gratitude, how exquisitely true!
Who tender confidence repay with love,
Integrity unshaken, faith most pure,
Warm, zealous loyalty. With honour clad,
As with a robe, and beauteous ornaments
Of unaffected modesty. Well-skill'd
To form the growing soul, and on its young
And opening bud to fix the impression deep
Of every generous thought, which stimulates
The future Man, to love of Parents, Friends,
Offspring, and sacred freedom, while as yet
Corruption suffers, in her favourite Isle
The Goddess to reside. Far hence, away,
Ye groveling sensualists, to Eastern climes!
Where lust, and barbarous jealousy immure
The passive slaves! What joy can beauty give,
When strays the unfetter'd will? Or when in calm,
And thinking hour, the mind unsatisfied
Contemns the looser objects of desire,
Pining for sympathy? And feels a void,
Which roving licence never can supply?
The wanton dance, the soft voluptuous strain
Sung to the melting viol, nought inspires,
But languor and disgust. Mistaken men!
Who lose the better portion of their time,
The dear domestic hour; the converse bland,
Fruition of the soul, love's balmy zest
Which never cloys; parental cares conjoin'd;
Divided griefs; reciprocal delights;
The life of nature, reason, virtue, bliss.
(Book II, pp. 53-5 in 1803 edition; confirmed, pp. 62-3 in 1776 ed.)
Their station how important! Hapless he
Who lives unconscious of their worth! The Fool
Of grosser sense, or airy libertine
Who draws his judgment from the forward few,
Or yielding weak, and dares with impious tongue
Pronounce them all the slaves of vanity,
By passion ever led, by flattery won.
Their frame like our's, but with ethereal touch
More delicately limb'd. The same their souls,
More soft, more sensitive, and more refined,
Each uncontaminated Briton owns
And feels their virtues. Polishers of life!
Sweeteners of savage care! Who tune the breast
To harmony, or prompt to glorious deeds
And emulative toil. To friendship's flame,
To gratitude, how exquisitely true!
Who tender confidence repay with love,
Integrity unshaken, faith most pure,
Warm, zealous loyalty. With honour clad,
As with a robe, and beauteous ornaments
Of unaffected modesty. Well-skill'd
To form the growing soul, and on its young
And opening bud to fix the impression deep
Of every generous thought, which stimulates
The future Man, to love of Parents, Friends,
Offspring, and sacred freedom, while as yet
Corruption suffers, in her favourite Isle
The Goddess to reside. Far hence, away,
Ye groveling sensualists, to Eastern climes!
Where lust, and barbarous jealousy immure
The passive slaves! What joy can beauty give,
When strays the unfetter'd will? Or when in calm,
And thinking hour, the mind unsatisfied
Contemns the looser objects of desire,
Pining for sympathy? And feels a void,
Which roving licence never can supply?
The wanton dance, the soft voluptuous strain
Sung to the melting viol, nought inspires,
But languor and disgust. Mistaken men!
Who lose the better portion of their time,
The dear domestic hour; the converse bland,
Fruition of the soul, love's balmy zest
Which never cloys; parental cares conjoin'd;
Divided griefs; reciprocal delights;
The life of nature, reason, virtue, bliss.
(Book II, pp. 53-5 in 1803 edition; confirmed, pp. 62-3 in 1776 ed.)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "soul" and "impression" in HDIS (Poetry); found again "thought"
Citation
7 entries in the ESTC (1774, 1775, 1776, 1778, 1788, 1790).
Text from Infancy, or the Management of Children: a Didactic Poem, in Six Books. the Sixth Edition. To Which Are Added Poems Not Before Published. by Hugh Downman. 6th ed. (Exeter: Printed by Trewman and Son; sold by them and Cadell and Davies, London, 1803).
First printed in three books, 1774-1776. See Infancy; or, the Management of Children. A Didactic Poem, in Three Books. By Hugh Downman, M. D. (Edinburgh: Printed for John Bell, 1776).
Printed in six books in the 4th edition of 1788. See Infancy, or the Management of Children, a Didactic Poem, in Six Books. The Fourth Edition. By Hugh Downman, M.D. (Edinburgh: Printed for John Bell: G. G. J. & J. Robinson, G. & T. Wilkie; and G. Kearsley, London, 1788).
Text from Infancy, or the Management of Children: a Didactic Poem, in Six Books. the Sixth Edition. To Which Are Added Poems Not Before Published. by Hugh Downman. 6th ed. (Exeter: Printed by Trewman and Son; sold by them and Cadell and Davies, London, 1803).
First printed in three books, 1774-1776. See Infancy; or, the Management of Children. A Didactic Poem, in Three Books. By Hugh Downman, M. D. (Edinburgh: Printed for John Bell, 1776).
Printed in six books in the 4th edition of 1788. See Infancy, or the Management of Children, a Didactic Poem, in Six Books. The Fourth Edition. By Hugh Downman, M.D. (Edinburgh: Printed for John Bell: G. G. J. & J. Robinson, G. & T. Wilkie; and G. Kearsley, London, 1788).
Date of Entry
05/17/2005
