"'Tis said, when Japhet's Son began / To mould the Clay, and fashion Man, / He stole from every Beast a Part, / And fix'd the Lion in his Heart."
— Duncombe, John (1729-1786) [Editor]
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
R. and J. Dodsley
Date
1757-9
Metaphor
"'Tis said, when Japhet's Son began / To mould the Clay, and fashion Man, / He stole from every Beast a Part, / And fix'd the Lion in his Heart."
Metaphor in Context
'Tis said, when Japhet's Son began
To mould the Clay, and fashion Man,
He stole from every Beast a Part,
And fix'd the Lion in his Heart.
From Rage the tragic Ills arose,
That crush'd Thyestes; hence the Woes
Of Cities with the Ground laid ev'n,
And Plough-shares o'er their Ruins driv'n
Then curb your Anger: Heat of Youth
(I now with Shame confess the Truth)
Prompted alone my guilty Muse
In rapid Numbers to abuse
Your blameless Name--Forgiv'n by You,
I will a softer Theme pursue.
To mould the Clay, and fashion Man,
He stole from every Beast a Part,
And fix'd the Lion in his Heart.
From Rage the tragic Ills arose,
That crush'd Thyestes; hence the Woes
Of Cities with the Ground laid ev'n,
And Plough-shares o'er their Ruins driv'n
Then curb your Anger: Heat of Youth
(I now with Shame confess the Truth)
Prompted alone my guilty Muse
In rapid Numbers to abuse
Your blameless Name--Forgiv'n by You,
I will a softer Theme pursue.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "beast" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
The Works of Horace in English verse. By several Hands. Collected and Published by Mr. Duncombe. With Notes Historical and Critical, 2 vols. (London: R. and J. Dodsley, 1757). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
07/02/2012
