"Repeated Prostitutions conquer Shame, / Assure the Face, and struggling Reason tame."
— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by W. Wilkins for Jonas Browne ... and J. Walthoe [etc.]
Date
1718
Metaphor
"Repeated Prostitutions conquer Shame, / Assure the Face, and struggling Reason tame."
Metaphor in Context
At first we play along the flow'ry Brink,
View the suspected Stream, and trembling drink:
Affronted Reason stings us with Remorse,
Suggests the Danger and obstructs our Course:
For Nature yet her Modesty retains,
Starts to behold her ignominious Stains,
And grieves her Beauties are so much defac'd,
Her high Descent and Dignity debas'd;
But the sweet Bowl's intoxicating Fume
Will by degrees our vanquish'd Sense benumb,
And o'er the Mind diffuse Egyptian Gloom.
Now Nightly Horrors cease to haunt the Head,
And we no more familiar Danger dread.
Our faithful Censor laid asleep within,
We undisturb'd take down full Draughts of Sin.
Repeated Prostitutions conquer Shame,
Assure the Face, and struggling Reason tame.
(ll. 55-71)
View the suspected Stream, and trembling drink:
Affronted Reason stings us with Remorse,
Suggests the Danger and obstructs our Course:
For Nature yet her Modesty retains,
Starts to behold her ignominious Stains,
And grieves her Beauties are so much defac'd,
Her high Descent and Dignity debas'd;
But the sweet Bowl's intoxicating Fume
Will by degrees our vanquish'd Sense benumb,
And o'er the Mind diffuse Egyptian Gloom.
Now Nightly Horrors cease to haunt the Head,
And we no more familiar Danger dread.
Our faithful Censor laid asleep within,
We undisturb'd take down full Draughts of Sin.
Repeated Prostitutions conquer Shame,
Assure the Face, and struggling Reason tame.
(ll. 55-71)
Categories
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Only 1 entry in ESTC and ECCO (1718).
Richard Blackmore, A Collection of Poems on Various Subjects. By Sir Richard Blackmore, Kt. M. D. Fellow of the Royal-College of Physicians. (London: Printed by W. Wilkins, for Jonas Browne and J. Walthoe, 1718). <Link to ECCO>
Richard Blackmore, A Collection of Poems on Various Subjects. By Sir Richard Blackmore, Kt. M. D. Fellow of the Royal-College of Physicians. (London: Printed by W. Wilkins, for Jonas Browne and J. Walthoe, 1718). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
05/20/2010
