"Nor sea, nor life, eternal Tempest sweeps, / Hush'd calms succeed it, and the thunder sleeps: / Such, the soft, silent tide, that floods the mind, / To mov'd Compassion's pain-touch'd warmth, inclin'd."
— Hill, Aaron (1685-1750)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Date
1746, 1753
Metaphor
"Nor sea, nor life, eternal Tempest sweeps, / Hush'd calms succeed it, and the thunder sleeps: / Such, the soft, silent tide, that floods the mind, / To mov'd Compassion's pain-touch'd warmth, inclin'd."
Metaphor in Context
Nor sea, nor life, eternal Tempest sweeps,
Hush'd calms succeed it, and the thunder sleeps:
Such, the soft, silent tide, that floods the mind,
To mov'd Compassion's pain-touch'd warmth, inclin'd:
Aidful idea springs to pitied woe,
Thence, every quiv'ring sinew learns to glow:
Back, from the panting bosom, to the eye,
Kind, sigh-wing'd dews, in soft sensation, fly:
So, from earth's op'ning breast, in flow'r-dress'd May,
Steams the sipt fragrance, to the sun's felt ray;
Lightly sustain'd, to morn's faint clasp it clings,
Yet, oft (let go) falls back--oft, upward, springs:
So learn,--to steal soft Pity's copied grace;
Languor's moist cloud marks, first, the mournful face;
Then, hope's kind tension warms the musc'ly mein,
Dragg'd diff'rent ways, contending contrasts lean;
Clash'd looks, 'gainst movements, paint internal fight,
'Twixt the heart's anguish, and the help's delight:
Then, touch'd attention's hark'ning hush creeps round,
And breathless mouths devour th' expected sound.
Hush'd calms succeed it, and the thunder sleeps:
Such, the soft, silent tide, that floods the mind,
To mov'd Compassion's pain-touch'd warmth, inclin'd:
Aidful idea springs to pitied woe,
Thence, every quiv'ring sinew learns to glow:
Back, from the panting bosom, to the eye,
Kind, sigh-wing'd dews, in soft sensation, fly:
So, from earth's op'ning breast, in flow'r-dress'd May,
Steams the sipt fragrance, to the sun's felt ray;
Lightly sustain'd, to morn's faint clasp it clings,
Yet, oft (let go) falls back--oft, upward, springs:
So learn,--to steal soft Pity's copied grace;
Languor's moist cloud marks, first, the mournful face;
Then, hope's kind tension warms the musc'ly mein,
Dragg'd diff'rent ways, contending contrasts lean;
Clash'd looks, 'gainst movements, paint internal fight,
'Twixt the heart's anguish, and the help's delight:
Then, touch'd attention's hark'ning hush creeps round,
And breathless mouths devour th' expected sound.
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
