"The working Soul, unexercis'd abroad, / Like martial Nations, turns its numerous Powers / Upon its self; and sunk by native Weight, / Begins intestine Broils, and War at Home."
— Jeffreys, George (1678-1755)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed, and Sold by T. Woodward, J.Walthoe, J.Peele, and T.Wood
Date
1724
Metaphor
"The working Soul, unexercis'd abroad, /
Like martial Nations, turns its numerous Powers / Upon its self; and sunk by native Weight, / Begins intestine Broils, and War at Home."
Metaphor in Context
LEOLIN.
In endless Sleep;
The sleep of Death: in Life 'twere fond to seek it.
Give me pursuit and bus'ness; keep my Mind
Awake with Expectation, or Enjoyment
Of real Pleasure, and of active Good;
If you would make me blest. I'll ne'er be buried
Alive in your imagin'd Indolence;
Your gloomy Sloth mistaken for Repose.
The working Soul, unexercis'd abroad,
Like martial Nations, turns its numerous Powers
Upon its self; and sunk by native Weight,
Begins intestine Broils, and War at Home.
(III.i, p. 45)
In endless Sleep;
The sleep of Death: in Life 'twere fond to seek it.
Give me pursuit and bus'ness; keep my Mind
Awake with Expectation, or Enjoyment
Of real Pleasure, and of active Good;
If you would make me blest. I'll ne'er be buried
Alive in your imagin'd Indolence;
Your gloomy Sloth mistaken for Repose.
The working Soul, unexercis'd abroad,
Like martial Nations, turns its numerous Powers
Upon its self; and sunk by native Weight,
Begins intestine Broils, and War at Home.
(III.i, p. 45)
Categories
Provenance
C-H Lion
Citation
Only 1 entry in ESTC (1724).
Edwin: A Tragedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. By Geo. Jeffreys. (London: Printed, and Sold by T. Woodward, J.Walthoe, J.Peele, and T.Wood, 1724). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books>
Edwin: A Tragedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. By Geo. Jeffreys. (London: Printed, and Sold by T. Woodward, J.Walthoe, J.Peele, and T.Wood, 1724). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books>
Date of Entry
06/29/2013
