""Unwise, who, tossing on the watery way, / All to the storm th'unfetter'd sail devolve; / Man more unwise resigns the mental sway, / Born headlong on by passion's keen resolve."
— Beattie, James (1735-1803)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London and Edinburgh
Publisher
Printed for T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, at Tully's Head, in the Strand; and J. Balfour, in Edinburgh
Date
1765
Metaphor
""Unwise, who, tossing on the watery way, / All to the storm th'unfetter'd sail devolve; / Man more unwise resigns the mental sway, / Born headlong on by passion's keen resolve."
Metaphor in Context
"Sincere th'unalter'd bliss her charms impart,
"Sedate th'enlivening ardors they inspire;
"She bids no transient rapture thrill the heart,
"She wakes no feverish gust of fierce desire.
"Unwise, who, tossing on the watery way,
"All to the storm th'unfetter'd sail devolve;
"Man more unwise resigns the mental sway,
"Born headlong on by passion's keen resolve.
"While storms remote but murmur on thine ear,
"Nor waves in ruinous uproar round thee roll,
"Yet yet a moment check thy prone career,
"And curb the keen resolve that prompts thy soul.
(pp. 15-6)
"Sedate th'enlivening ardors they inspire;
"She bids no transient rapture thrill the heart,
"She wakes no feverish gust of fierce desire.
"Unwise, who, tossing on the watery way,
"All to the storm th'unfetter'd sail devolve;
"Man more unwise resigns the mental sway,
"Born headlong on by passion's keen resolve.
"While storms remote but murmur on thine ear,
"Nor waves in ruinous uproar round thee roll,
"Yet yet a moment check thy prone career,
"And curb the keen resolve that prompts thy soul.
(pp. 15-6)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
Beattie, James. The Judgment of Paris. A Poem. (London and Edinburgh: T. Becket, P. A. De Hondt, and J. Balfour, 1765). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECOO>
Date of Entry
06/25/2011
