"Heav'n's early care prescrib'd for every age; / First, in the soul, and after, in the page."
— Dryden, John (1631-1700)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Jacob Tonson
Date
November, 1682
Metaphor
"Heav'n's early care prescrib'd for every age; / First, in the soul, and after, in the page."
Metaphor in Context
Proof needs not here, for whether we compare
That impious, idle, superstitious ware
Of rites, lustrations, offerings, (which before,
In various ages, various countries bore)
With Christian faith and virtues, we shall find
None answ'ring the great ends of human kind,
But this one rule of life: that shows us best
How God may be appeas'd, and mortals blest.
Whether from length of time its worth we draw,
The world is scarce more ancient than the law:
Heav'n's early care prescrib'd for every age;
First, in the soul, and after, in the page.
Or, whether more abstractedly we look,
Or on the writers, or the written Book,
Whence, but from Heav'n, could men unskill'd in arts,
In several ages born, in several parts,
Weave such agreeing truths? or how, or why
Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie?
Unask'd their pains, ungrateful their advice,
Starving their gain, and martyrdom their price.
(ll. 126-145)
That impious, idle, superstitious ware
Of rites, lustrations, offerings, (which before,
In various ages, various countries bore)
With Christian faith and virtues, we shall find
None answ'ring the great ends of human kind,
But this one rule of life: that shows us best
How God may be appeas'd, and mortals blest.
Whether from length of time its worth we draw,
The world is scarce more ancient than the law:
Heav'n's early care prescrib'd for every age;
First, in the soul, and after, in the page.
Or, whether more abstractedly we look,
Or on the writers, or the written Book,
Whence, but from Heav'n, could men unskill'd in arts,
In several ages born, in several parts,
Weave such agreeing truths? or how, or why
Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie?
Unask'd their pains, ungrateful their advice,
Starving their gain, and martyrdom their price.
(ll. 126-145)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
Reading John Dryden, ed. Keith Walker (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1987).
Text from Representative Poetry Online, ed. G. G. Falle. Original from John Dryden, Poetry, Prose, and Plays, ed. Douglas Grant (Reynard Library edition: Hart-Davis, 1952). <Link to RPO>
See also Religio Laici, or, A Laymans Faith. A Poem (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1682). <Link to EEBO>
Text from Representative Poetry Online, ed. G. G. Falle. Original from John Dryden, Poetry, Prose, and Plays, ed. Douglas Grant (Reynard Library edition: Hart-Davis, 1952). <Link to RPO>
See also Religio Laici, or, A Laymans Faith. A Poem (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1682). <Link to EEBO>
Date of Entry
12/17/2011
