"Thou Christian emperor in whose generous breast / The light of pure devotion shone impress'd, / That sacred light descending from above, / An emanation of coelestial love; / With speed of light'ning spread the lambent ray, / Till realms of darkness kindled into day; / From God himself the spark etherial came, / And man ador'd the soul-illuming flame!"
— Pratt, Samuel Jackson [pseud. Courtney Melmoth] (1749-1814)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for T. Cadell
Date
1788
Metaphor
"Thou Christian emperor in whose generous breast / The light of pure devotion shone impress'd, / That sacred light descending from above, / An emanation of coelestial love; / With speed of light'ning spread the lambent ray, / Till realms of darkness kindled into day; / From God himself the spark etherial came, / And man ador'd the soul-illuming flame!"
Metaphor in Context
Hail tender ADRIAN, first on Rome's record,
Who drew distinct the line 'twixt slave and lord;
Who with sweet mercy temper'd awful power,
While pity's angel hail'd th'auspicious hour!
Thou Christian emperor in whose generous breast
The light of pure devotion shone impress'd,
That sacred light descending from above,
An emanation of coelestial love;
With speed of light'ning spread the lambent ray,
Till realms of darkness kindled into day;
From God himself the spark etherial came,
And man ador'd the soul-illuming flame!
Thou too, just Constantine, with gentle sway,
Bade all be free and all that God obey;
The fire from Heav'n a general lustre shed,
And the foul mists of superstition fled;
Fair Faith was crown'd, her banner was display'd
Sunk was the crosier and the cross prevail'd.
(pp. 20-1)
Who drew distinct the line 'twixt slave and lord;
Who with sweet mercy temper'd awful power,
While pity's angel hail'd th'auspicious hour!
Thou Christian emperor in whose generous breast
The light of pure devotion shone impress'd,
That sacred light descending from above,
An emanation of coelestial love;
With speed of light'ning spread the lambent ray,
Till realms of darkness kindled into day;
From God himself the spark etherial came,
And man ador'd the soul-illuming flame!
Thou too, just Constantine, with gentle sway,
Bade all be free and all that God obey;
The fire from Heav'n a general lustre shed,
And the foul mists of superstition fled;
Fair Faith was crown'd, her banner was display'd
Sunk was the crosier and the cross prevail'd.
(pp. 20-1)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
At least 7 entries in ESTC (1788, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1800).
Samuel Jackson Pratt, Humanity, or the Rights of Nature, a Poem; in Two Books. By the Author of Sympathy (London: T. Cadell, 1788). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books>
Added to Gleanings through Wales, Holland and Westphalia (1795, 1796, 1798, 1800).
Samuel Jackson Pratt, Humanity, or the Rights of Nature, a Poem; in Two Books. By the Author of Sympathy (London: T. Cadell, 1788). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books>
Added to Gleanings through Wales, Holland and Westphalia (1795, 1796, 1798, 1800).
Theme
Enlightenment
Date of Entry
07/18/2011
