"Children, like tender Oziers, take the Bow, / And, as they first are fashion'd always grow."
— Dryden, John (1631-1700) [Poem ascribed to]
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Jacob Tonson
Date
1693
Metaphor
"Children, like tender Oziers, take the Bow, / And, as they first are fashion'd always grow."
Metaphor in Context
Some Sons, indeed, some very few, we see
Who keep themselves from this Infection free,
Whom Gracious Heaven for Nobler Ends design'd,
Their Looks erected, and their Clay refin'd.
The rest are all by bad Example led,
And in their Father's slimy Track they tread.
Is't not enough we should our selves undo,
But that our Children we must Ruin too?
Children, like tender Osiers, take the bow,
And as they first are Fashion'd, always grow.
By Nature, headlong to all Ills we run,
And Virtue, like some dreadful Monster, shun.
Survey the World, and where on Cato Shines,
Count a degenerate Herd of Catilines.
(pp. 277-8)
Who keep themselves from this Infection free,
Whom Gracious Heaven for Nobler Ends design'd,
Their Looks erected, and their Clay refin'd.
The rest are all by bad Example led,
And in their Father's slimy Track they tread.
Is't not enough we should our selves undo,
But that our Children we must Ruin too?
Children, like tender Osiers, take the bow,
And as they first are Fashion'd, always grow.
By Nature, headlong to all Ills we run,
And Virtue, like some dreadful Monster, shun.
Survey the World, and where on Cato Shines,
Count a degenerate Herd of Catilines.
(pp. 277-8)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
See The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse By Mr. Dryden and Several other Eminent Hands. Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1693). <Link to EEBO>
Date of Entry
07/10/2013
