"Thou Live, and yet speak against Drinking, the very thing that distinguishes the Life of Man from that of a Beast! Why, 'tis the onely Spur of Wit and Reason; I have heard more new thoughts in Drinking three hours, then the best Modern Play can furnish you with; Therefore if thou would'st Live, that is, truly enjoy thy self, Drink, I say, Drink."
— Payne, Henry [alias Henry Nevill] (d. 1705?)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Thomas Dring
Date
November 4, 1672, 1673
Metaphor
"Thou Live, and yet speak against Drinking, the very thing that distinguishes the Life of Man from that of a Beast! Why, 'tis the onely Spur of Wit and Reason; I have heard more new thoughts in Drinking three hours, then the best Modern Play can furnish you with; Therefore if thou would'st Live, that is, truly enjoy thy self, Drink, I say, Drink."
Metaphor in Context
TOWNLOVE.
If want of consideration be a sign of madness, Will, thou hast been a little craz'd ever since I knew thee. But prethee, what han't I consider'd in this matter?
MERRY.
Living, Townlove, Living: thou hast not so much as consider'd what bus'ness thou was sent into the World about--Tis Living, Man.
TOWNLOVE.
Why, I know 'tis Living, and therefore I strive to Live as much of the time I have allow'd me as I can.
MERRY.
Thou Live, and yet speak against Drinking, the very thing that distinguishes the Life of Man from that of a Beast! Why, 'tis the onely Spur of Wit and Reason; I have heard more new thoughts in Drinking three hours, then the best Modern Play can furnish you with; Therefore if thou would'st Live, that is, truly enjoy thy self, Drink, I say, Drink.
(I, p. 2)
If want of consideration be a sign of madness, Will, thou hast been a little craz'd ever since I knew thee. But prethee, what han't I consider'd in this matter?
MERRY.
Living, Townlove, Living: thou hast not so much as consider'd what bus'ness thou was sent into the World about--Tis Living, Man.
TOWNLOVE.
Why, I know 'tis Living, and therefore I strive to Live as much of the time I have allow'd me as I can.
MERRY.
Thou Live, and yet speak against Drinking, the very thing that distinguishes the Life of Man from that of a Beast! Why, 'tis the onely Spur of Wit and Reason; I have heard more new thoughts in Drinking three hours, then the best Modern Play can furnish you with; Therefore if thou would'st Live, that is, truly enjoy thy self, Drink, I say, Drink.
(I, p. 2)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "reason" and "beast" in HDIS (Drama)
Citation
Henry Neville Payne, The Morning Ramble, or the Town-Humours: a Comedy (London: Thomas Dring, 1673). <Link to EEBO>
Date of Entry
07/02/2012
