"It reach'd the inmost Marrow of the Brain / Where we perceive our Pleasures, and our Pain. / There where the Soul upon her Throne abides, / And from our Sight conceal'd her Empire guides: / Do's various Orders various Tasks dispence, / To all th'inferiour Ministers of Sence."
— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Awnsham and John Churchil and Jacob Tonson
Date
1697
Metaphor
"It reach'd the inmost Marrow of the Brain / Where we perceive our Pleasures, and our Pain. / There where the Soul upon her Throne abides, / And from our Sight conceal'd her Empire guides: / Do's various Orders various Tasks dispence, / To all th'inferiour Ministers of Sence."
Metaphor in Context
Othar mean while his furious Javelin threw
Which aim'd at Milo on its Message flew.
It pass'd his Buckler, and the painful Point
Wounded his Knee, and enter'd far the Joynt.
Back to the Rear off from the fierce Attack,
Strong Sebul bore him on his brawny Back.
Then Asdran cast his Dart with wondrous Force,
The glitt'ring Death with an impetuous Course
Against young Trebor's Helmet flew direct,
Which now no longer could his Head protect:
The Dart his ample Forehead struck, and full
Between his thick-black Eyebrows pierc'd his Skull.
It reach'd the inmost Marrow of the Brain
Where we perceive our Pleasures, and our Pain.
There where the Soul upon her Throne abides,
And from our Sight conceal'd her Empire guides:
Do's various Orders various Tasks dispence,
To all th'inferiour Ministers of Sence.
Now suddain Death do's her high Seat invade,
And spreads the Courts of Life with horrid Shade.
A fatal Dart which strong Odallon cast,
Pierc'd Modar's Shield and thro' his Temples past:
Extended on the Ground the Hero lay,
His Eyeballs struggling with departing Day.
A massy Spear which Orbal's Arm convey'd,
Past half its Length thro' Kirton's Shoulder Blade,
And on the Dust th'expiring Captain laid.
A pondrous Stone crush'd Cadel's brawny Thigh,
Which made the Chief in raging Anguish ly;
But then a second struck him in the Breast,
And of its painful Prison Life releast.
(Bk VII, pp. 185-6, ll. 236-266)
Which aim'd at Milo on its Message flew.
It pass'd his Buckler, and the painful Point
Wounded his Knee, and enter'd far the Joynt.
Back to the Rear off from the fierce Attack,
Strong Sebul bore him on his brawny Back.
Then Asdran cast his Dart with wondrous Force,
The glitt'ring Death with an impetuous Course
Against young Trebor's Helmet flew direct,
Which now no longer could his Head protect:
The Dart his ample Forehead struck, and full
Between his thick-black Eyebrows pierc'd his Skull.
It reach'd the inmost Marrow of the Brain
Where we perceive our Pleasures, and our Pain.
There where the Soul upon her Throne abides,
And from our Sight conceal'd her Empire guides:
Do's various Orders various Tasks dispence,
To all th'inferiour Ministers of Sence.
Now suddain Death do's her high Seat invade,
And spreads the Courts of Life with horrid Shade.
A fatal Dart which strong Odallon cast,
Pierc'd Modar's Shield and thro' his Temples past:
Extended on the Ground the Hero lay,
His Eyeballs struggling with departing Day.
A massy Spear which Orbal's Arm convey'd,
Past half its Length thro' Kirton's Shoulder Blade,
And on the Dust th'expiring Captain laid.
A pondrous Stone crush'd Cadel's brawny Thigh,
Which made the Chief in raging Anguish ly;
But then a second struck him in the Breast,
And of its painful Prison Life releast.
(Bk VII, pp. 185-6, ll. 236-266)
Provenance
Searching "mind" and "throne" in HDIS (Poetry); These lines also found in Bysshe's British Parnassus ([London] : Printed by J. Nutt, 1714), I, 453.
Citation
2 entries in ESTC (1697).
First published in 1695 in ten books as Prince Arthur. Reprinted 1696, 1714.
See Richard Blackmore. King Arthur, An Heroick Poem. In Twelve Books. By Richard Blackmore. To which is Annexed, An Index, Explaining the Names of Countrys, Citys, and Rivers, &c. (London: Printed for Awnsham, John Churchil, and Jacob Tonson, 1697). <Link to ESTC>
First published in 1695 in ten books as Prince Arthur. Reprinted 1696, 1714.
See Richard Blackmore. King Arthur, An Heroick Poem. In Twelve Books. By Richard Blackmore. To which is Annexed, An Index, Explaining the Names of Countrys, Citys, and Rivers, &c. (London: Printed for Awnsham, John Churchil, and Jacob Tonson, 1697). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
07/02/2013
