"On clouds, where Fancy's beam amusive plays, / Shall heedless Hope the towering fabric raise?"
— Beattie, James (1735-1803)
Author
Work Title
Date
1760
Metaphor
"On clouds, where Fancy's beam amusive plays, / Shall heedless Hope the towering fabric raise?"
Metaphor in Context
Still shall unthinking man substantial deem
The forms that fleet through life's deceitful dream?
On clouds, where Fancy's beam amusive plays,
Shall heedless Hope the towering fabric raise?
Till at Death's touch the fairy visions fly,
And real scenes rush dismal on the eye;
And from Elysium's balmy slumber torn
The startled soul awakes, to think, and mourn.
(p. 49, ll. 1-8; cf. p. 40 in 1760 ed.)
The forms that fleet through life's deceitful dream?
On clouds, where Fancy's beam amusive plays,
Shall heedless Hope the towering fabric raise?
Till at Death's touch the fairy visions fly,
And real scenes rush dismal on the eye;
And from Elysium's balmy slumber torn
The startled soul awakes, to think, and mourn.
(p. 49, ll. 1-8; cf. p. 40 in 1760 ed.)
Categories
Provenance
C-H Lion (Poetry); confirmed in ECCO.
Citation
At least 12 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1760, 1761, 1770, 1773, 1775, 1776, 1779, 1783, 1789, 1797, 1799). Collected in The British Poets, A Collection of Original Poems. By Rev. Mr. Blacklock, and Other Scotch Gentlemen, The Muse's Pocket Companion, Pearch's A Collection of Original Poems. In Four Volumes, Choice of the Best Poetical Pieces of the Most Eminent English Poets, The English Parnassus, and Bell's Classical Arrangment of Fugitive Poetry.
See Original Poems and Translations. By James Beattie, A.M. (London [i.e. Aberdeen?]: Printed [by F. Douglas, Aberdeen?]; and sold by A. Millar in The Strand, 1760). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
Also Original Poems and Translations. By James Beattie, A.M. (Aberdeen: Printed by F. Douglas; and sold by him for the benefit of the author, and in London by A. Millar, in the Strand, 1761). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
Text from Poems on Several Subjects. By James Beattie, new edition, corrected (London: Printed for W. Johnston, 1766). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books>
See Original Poems and Translations. By James Beattie, A.M. (London [i.e. Aberdeen?]: Printed [by F. Douglas, Aberdeen?]; and sold by A. Millar in The Strand, 1760). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
Also Original Poems and Translations. By James Beattie, A.M. (Aberdeen: Printed by F. Douglas; and sold by him for the benefit of the author, and in London by A. Millar, in the Strand, 1761). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
Text from Poems on Several Subjects. By James Beattie, new edition, corrected (London: Printed for W. Johnston, 1766). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books>
Date of Entry
07/02/2013
