"And, indeed, so long as chivalry lasted, the minstrels were protected and caressed, because their music tended to do honour to the ruling passion of the times, and to encourage and foment a martial spirit."

— Pratt, Samuel Jackson [pseud. Courtney Melmoth] (1749-1814)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Richard Phillips [etc.]
Date
1805
Metaphor
"And, indeed, so long as chivalry lasted, the minstrels were protected and caressed, because their music tended to do honour to the ruling passion of the times, and to encourage and foment a martial spirit."
Metaphor in Context
In the bloom of their art, their itinerant profession was held in the utmost veneration. Our great king Alfred assumed it, when, in the character of a minstrel, taking his harp in his hand, and one of his most trusty friends disguised as a servant, or harp-bearer, he went into the Danish camp. And, indeed, so long as chivalry lasted, the minstrels were protected and caressed, because their music tended to do honour to the ruling passion of the times, and to encourage and foment a martial spirit. The songs they used to sing, even when the art lost much of its reputation, were of their own composing.
Provenance
Searching HDIS for "ruling passion"
Theme
Ruling Passion
Date of Entry
06/01/2004
Date of Review
07/19/2011

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.