"Fear is elusive sorrow, shunning pain; / Active--yet, stop'd--it dims the doubtful brain; / Spirit snatch'd inward, stagnating, by dread, / Slow, thro' the limbs, crawls cold, the living lead: / Form'd to the look, that moulds th' assumer's face, / His joints catch tremblings--life's moist strings unbrace; / This road, and that, th' alarmful passion tries, / Halts, in the motion--flutters, in the eyes; / Checks the clipt accent's hesitative way, / And, on th' evasive muscles, hangs delay."
— Hill, Aaron (1685-1750)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Date
1746, 1753
Metaphor
"Fear is elusive sorrow, shunning pain; / Active--yet, stop'd--it dims the doubtful brain; / Spirit snatch'd inward, stagnating, by dread, / Slow, thro' the limbs, crawls cold, the living lead: / Form'd to the look, that moulds th' assumer's face, / His joints catch tremblings--life's moist strings unbrace; / This road, and that, th' alarmful passion tries, / Halts, in the motion--flutters, in the eyes; / Checks the clipt accent's hesitative way, / And, on th' evasive muscles, hangs delay."
Metaphor in Context
Say, should some slack'ner of the passion's care,
Form'd for gay flights, and struggling from despair;
Bow'd, from his native bent, to doubt's new part,
Find Fear's cold cast assign'd a fearless heart?
What could he do? where house th' intrusive guest?
Let his Eye lodge him--'twill prepare his breast.
From the soul's optic, shoots th' admitted shape,
Nor lets one tim'rous wavering start escape.
Fear is elusive sorrow, shunning pain;
Active--yet, stop'd--it dims the doubtful brain;
Spirit snatch'd inward, stagnating, by dread,
Slow, thro' the limbs, crawls cold, the living lead:
Form'd to the look, that moulds th' assumer's face,
His joints catch tremblings--life's moist strings unbrace;
This road, and that, th' alarmful passion tries,
Halts, in the motion--flutters, in the eyes;
Checks the clipt accent's hesitative way,
And, on th' evasive muscles, hangs delay.
Form'd for gay flights, and struggling from despair;
Bow'd, from his native bent, to doubt's new part,
Find Fear's cold cast assign'd a fearless heart?
What could he do? where house th' intrusive guest?
Let his Eye lodge him--'twill prepare his breast.
From the soul's optic, shoots th' admitted shape,
Nor lets one tim'rous wavering start escape.
Fear is elusive sorrow, shunning pain;
Active--yet, stop'd--it dims the doubtful brain;
Spirit snatch'd inward, stagnating, by dread,
Slow, thro' the limbs, crawls cold, the living lead:
Form'd to the look, that moulds th' assumer's face,
His joints catch tremblings--life's moist strings unbrace;
This road, and that, th' alarmful passion tries,
Halts, in the motion--flutters, in the eyes;
Checks the clipt accent's hesitative way,
And, on th' evasive muscles, hangs delay.
Categories
Provenance
Reading at the Folger Library
Citation
At least 4 entries in ESTC (1746, 1753, 1754, 1779).
Text from The Works of the Late Aaron Hill, 4 vols. (London: Printed for the Benefit of the Family, 1753).
Copy at Folger Library also consulted. Aaron Hill, The Art of Acting. Part 1. Deriving Rules from a New Principle, for Touching the Passions in a Natural Manner. An Essay of General Use. (London: Printed for J. Osborn, 1746).
Text from The Works of the Late Aaron Hill, 4 vols. (London: Printed for the Benefit of the Family, 1753).
Copy at Folger Library also consulted. Aaron Hill, The Art of Acting. Part 1. Deriving Rules from a New Principle, for Touching the Passions in a Natural Manner. An Essay of General Use. (London: Printed for J. Osborn, 1746).
Date of Entry
03/05/2012
