"For when his Mind once tasted Wisdom's treat, / Her luscious liquors, and pure mental meat, / His Spirit, raptur'd o'er the rich repast, / Soon shrunk to learn life must so shortly last!"
— Woodhouse, James (bap. 1735, d. 1820)
Work Title
Date
1814, 1816, 1896
Metaphor
"For when his Mind once tasted Wisdom's treat, / Her luscious liquors, and pure mental meat, / His Spirit, raptur'd o'er the rich repast, / Soon shrunk to learn life must so shortly last!"
Metaphor in Context
Small part of time had he for such pursuit,
To raise the reasoning Man above the Brute--
But small supplies to purchase things of Sense
For Body's frail support, or due defence--
No environs had he, or dainty dome,
Where listless limbs could rest, rapt looks could roam--
No splendid equipage his table spread,
To grace each grateful dish, whene'er he fed--
No food high flavour'd--no exciting swill
On which his Frame could feed, his Thought could thrill--
No ornamented stole, to pamper pride,
But paltry russets, extra-toil supplied.
The want of dainties rais'd no deep regret,
Of culinary luxuries ignorant, yet;
And tho', in after times, his trying fate
Found full indulgence, 'mong the Good and Great,
Yet when witheld, like all Earth's dung and dross,
His heart, once well-inform'd, scarce felt the loss!
For when his Mind once tasted Wisdom's treat,
Her luscious liquors, and pure mental meat,
His Spirit, raptur'd o'er the rich repast,
Soon shrunk to learn life must so shortly last!
He forward look'd, but with abated joy,
In doubt when Heav'n would deign some fresh supply.
Full soon his Soul devour'd each scanty stock,
And felt more sharpened fears of famine shock;
While wishes, prompt, o'er meagre morsels pin'd;
Mere mock reflections for a famish'd Mind!
For, as internal stimulants excite
More painful efforts, than improv'd delight;
So these, with ceaseless inward strivings, wrought,
To urge more energies of act, and thought.
To raise the reasoning Man above the Brute--
But small supplies to purchase things of Sense
For Body's frail support, or due defence--
No environs had he, or dainty dome,
Where listless limbs could rest, rapt looks could roam--
No splendid equipage his table spread,
To grace each grateful dish, whene'er he fed--
No food high flavour'd--no exciting swill
On which his Frame could feed, his Thought could thrill--
No ornamented stole, to pamper pride,
But paltry russets, extra-toil supplied.
The want of dainties rais'd no deep regret,
Of culinary luxuries ignorant, yet;
And tho', in after times, his trying fate
Found full indulgence, 'mong the Good and Great,
Yet when witheld, like all Earth's dung and dross,
His heart, once well-inform'd, scarce felt the loss!
For when his Mind once tasted Wisdom's treat,
Her luscious liquors, and pure mental meat,
His Spirit, raptur'd o'er the rich repast,
Soon shrunk to learn life must so shortly last!
He forward look'd, but with abated joy,
In doubt when Heav'n would deign some fresh supply.
Full soon his Soul devour'd each scanty stock,
And felt more sharpened fears of famine shock;
While wishes, prompt, o'er meagre morsels pin'd;
Mere mock reflections for a famish'd Mind!
For, as internal stimulants excite
More painful efforts, than improv'd delight;
So these, with ceaseless inward strivings, wrought,
To urge more energies of act, and thought.
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Poem first published in its entirety in 1896. The 1814 first edition receives notice in The New Monthly Magazine (March 1815); the poem was written "in the last century" (w. 1795-1820?).
Text from The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse, ed. R. I. Woodhouse, 2 vols. (London: The Leadenhall Press, 1896). <Link to Hathi Trust> <Link to LION>
Text from The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse, ed. R. I. Woodhouse, 2 vols. (London: The Leadenhall Press, 1896). <Link to Hathi Trust> <Link to LION>
Date of Entry
07/19/2005
Date of Review
05/26/2009
