"Therefore even as an index to a book, / So to his mind was young Leander's look."
— Marlowe, Christopher (bap. 1564, d. 1593)
Work Title
Date
1598
Metaphor
"Therefore even as an index to a book, / So to his mind was young Leander's look."
Metaphor in Context
Home when he came, he seemed not to be there,
But like the exilèd air thrust from his sphere,
Set in a foreign place; and straight from thence,
Alcides-like, by mighty violence,
He would have chased away the swelling main,
That him from her unjustly did detain.
Like as the sun in a diameter
Fires and inflames objects removèd far
And heateth kindly, shining lat'rally,
So beauty sweetly quickens when 'tis nigh,
But being separated and removèd,
Burns where it cherished, murders where it lovèd.
Therefore even as an index to a book,
So to his mind was young Leander's look.
O none but gods have power their love to hide,
Affection by the count'nance is descried.
The light of hidden fire itself discovers,
And love that is concealed betrays poor lovers.
His secret flame apparently was seen,
Leander's father knew where he had been,
And for the same mildly rebuked his son,
Thinking to quench the sparkles new begun.
But love resisted once grows passionate,
And nothing more than counsel lovers hate.
(II, ll. 117-40).
But like the exilèd air thrust from his sphere,
Set in a foreign place; and straight from thence,
Alcides-like, by mighty violence,
He would have chased away the swelling main,
That him from her unjustly did detain.
Like as the sun in a diameter
Fires and inflames objects removèd far
And heateth kindly, shining lat'rally,
So beauty sweetly quickens when 'tis nigh,
But being separated and removèd,
Burns where it cherished, murders where it lovèd.
Therefore even as an index to a book,
So to his mind was young Leander's look.
O none but gods have power their love to hide,
Affection by the count'nance is descried.
The light of hidden fire itself discovers,
And love that is concealed betrays poor lovers.
His secret flame apparently was seen,
Leander's father knew where he had been,
And for the same mildly rebuked his son,
Thinking to quench the sparkles new begun.
But love resisted once grows passionate,
And nothing more than counsel lovers hate.
(II, ll. 117-40).
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
Christopher Marlowe, The Complete Poems and Translations, ed. Stephen Orgel (New York: Penguin, 2007).
Date of Entry
11/21/2011
