"Have you not sometimes seen an early flower / Open its bud, and spread its silken leaves, / To catch sweet airs, and odours to bestow; / Then, by the keen blast nipt, pull in its leaves, / And, tho' still living, die to scent and beauty! / Emblem of me: affliction, like a storm, / Hath kill'd the forward blossom of my heart."
— Home, John (1722-1808)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
Edinburgh
Publisher
Printed for G. Hamilton
Date
Performed Dec 1756, published 1757
Metaphor
"Have you not sometimes seen an early flower / Open its bud, and spread its silken leaves, / To catch sweet airs, and odours to bestow; / Then, by the keen blast nipt, pull in its leaves, / And, tho' still living, die to scent and beauty! / Emblem of me: affliction, like a storm, / Hath kill'd the forward blossom of my heart."
Metaphor in Context
LADY RANDOLPH.
Glenalvon 's false and crafty head will work
Against a rival in his kinsman's love,
If I deter him not: I only can.
Bold as he is, Glenalvon will beware
How he pulls down the fabric that I raise.
I'll be the artist of young Norval 's fortune.
'Tis pleasing to admire! most apt was I
To this affection in my better days;
Tho' now I seem to you shrunk up, retir'd
Within the narrow compass of my woe.
Have you not sometimes seen an early flower
Open its bud, and spread its silken leaves,
To catch sweet airs, and odours to bestow;
Then, by the keen blast nipt, pull in its leaves,
And, tho' still living, die to scent and beauty!
Emblem of me: affliction, like a storm,
Hath kill'd the forward blossom of my heart.
(Act II, p. 25)
Glenalvon 's false and crafty head will work
Against a rival in his kinsman's love,
If I deter him not: I only can.
Bold as he is, Glenalvon will beware
How he pulls down the fabric that I raise.
I'll be the artist of young Norval 's fortune.
'Tis pleasing to admire! most apt was I
To this affection in my better days;
Tho' now I seem to you shrunk up, retir'd
Within the narrow compass of my woe.
Have you not sometimes seen an early flower
Open its bud, and spread its silken leaves,
To catch sweet airs, and odours to bestow;
Then, by the keen blast nipt, pull in its leaves,
And, tho' still living, die to scent and beauty!
Emblem of me: affliction, like a storm,
Hath kill'd the forward blossom of my heart.
(Act II, p. 25)
Categories
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
