"But if you have your Masters within your corrupt Mind, how are you Freer than this Slave, who is frighted to his Business by his Master's Frown, and Lash."
— Sheridan, Thomas (1687-1738)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for D. Brown
Date
1739
Metaphor
"But if you have your Masters within your corrupt Mind, how are you Freer than this Slave, who is frighted to his Business by his Master's Frown, and Lash."
Metaphor in Context
You say, you are free. How can that be, when you are subject to so many Passions? Do you acknowledge no Master, but from whom you are discharged by the Praetor?
Go Boy, says your Master, and carry the rubbing Brush to the Bath of Crispinus. If he should grow peevish and say, Do you loiter, you lazy Scoundrel? I suppose this severe Bondage does not in the least move you; nor can any thing external reach you. But if you have your Masters within your corrupt Mind, how are you Freer than this Slave, who is frighted to his Business by his Master's Frown, and Lash.
In the Morning you lie dissolved in Sloth; Rise up, says Avarice; arise, I say. You refuse her. But still she repeats arise. I cannot. Again she presses. What shall I do? Do you ask? Go, bring some of the Saperda Fish from Pontus, Castoreum, Flax, Ebony, Frankincense, and Coan Wines. Get before-hand with the rest, by unloading the thirsty Camel of his Pepper. Traffick, and perjure your self. But Jupiter alas will hear me! You great Fool, you must be as poor as a Church-Mouse, if you have any Regard for God or Religion.
(p. 89)
Go Boy, says your Master, and carry the rubbing Brush to the Bath of Crispinus. If he should grow peevish and say, Do you loiter, you lazy Scoundrel? I suppose this severe Bondage does not in the least move you; nor can any thing external reach you. But if you have your Masters within your corrupt Mind, how are you Freer than this Slave, who is frighted to his Business by his Master's Frown, and Lash.
In the Morning you lie dissolved in Sloth; Rise up, says Avarice; arise, I say. You refuse her. But still she repeats arise. I cannot. Again she presses. What shall I do? Do you ask? Go, bring some of the Saperda Fish from Pontus, Castoreum, Flax, Ebony, Frankincense, and Coan Wines. Get before-hand with the rest, by unloading the thirsty Camel of his Pepper. Traffick, and perjure your self. But Jupiter alas will hear me! You great Fool, you must be as poor as a Church-Mouse, if you have any Regard for God or Religion.
(p. 89)
Categories
Provenance
Reading in Google Books
Citation
5 entries in ESTC (1739, 1776, 1777, 1778, 1787).
The Satires of Persius, Translated into English by Thomas Sheridan, 2nd ed. (London: Printed for D. Brown, 1739). <Link to Google Books>
The Satires of Persius, Translated into English by Thomas Sheridan, 2nd ed. (London: Printed for D. Brown, 1739). <Link to Google Books>
Date of Entry
09/15/2011
