"Time, that wears out the trace of deepest anguish, / As the sea smooths the prints made in the sand, / Has past o'er thee in vain."
— Home, John (1722-1808)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
Edinburgh
Publisher
Printed for G. Hamilton
Date
Performed Dec 1756, published 1757
Metaphor
"Time, that wears out the trace of deepest anguish, / As the sea smooths the prints made in the sand, / Has past o'er thee in vain."
Metaphor in Context
LORD RANDOLPH.
When was it pure of sadness! These black weeds
Express the wonted colour of thy mind,
For ever dark and dismal. Seven long years
Are pass'd, since we were join'd by sacred ties:
Clouds, all the while have hung upon thy brow,
Nor broke, nor parted by one gleam of joy.
Time, that wears out the trace of deepest anguish,
As the sea smooths the prints made in the sand,
Has past o'er thee in vain.
(Act I, p. 8)
When was it pure of sadness! These black weeds
Express the wonted colour of thy mind,
For ever dark and dismal. Seven long years
Are pass'd, since we were join'd by sacred ties:
Clouds, all the while have hung upon thy brow,
Nor broke, nor parted by one gleam of joy.
Time, that wears out the trace of deepest anguish,
As the sea smooths the prints made in the sand,
Has past o'er thee in vain.
(Act I, p. 8)
Provenance
C-H Lion
Citation
At least 10 entries in ESTC (1757, 1764, 1768, 769, 1770, 1773, 1775).
Douglas: A Tragedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden (Edinburgh: Printed for G. Hamilton, 1757). <Link to ESTC>
Douglas: A Tragedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden (Edinburgh: Printed for G. Hamilton, 1757). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
06/28/2013
