"The craving Wife, the force of Magick tries, / And Philters for th' unable Husband buys: / The Potion works not on the part design'd, / But turns his Brain, and stupifies his Mind. / The sotted Moon-Calf gapes, and staring on, / Sees his own Business by another done: / A long Oblivion, a benumming Frost, / Constrains his Head; and Yesterday is lost."
— Dryden, John (1631-1700) [Poem ascribed to]
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Jacob Tonson
Date
1693
Metaphor
"The craving Wife, the force of Magick tries, / And Philters for th' unable Husband buys: / The Potion works not on the part design'd, / But turns his Brain, and stupifies his Mind. / The sotted Moon-Calf gapes, and staring on, / Sees his own Business by another done: / A long Oblivion, a benumming Frost, / Constrains his Head; and Yesterday is lost."
Metaphor in Context
The craving Wife, the force of Magick tries,
And Philters for th' unable Husband buys:
The Potion works not on the part design'd,
But turns his Brain, and stupifies his Mind.
The sotted Moon-Calf gapes, and staring on,
Sees his own Business by another done:
A long Oblivion, a benumming Frost,
Constrains his Head; and Yesterday is lost:
Some nimbler Juice wou'd make him foam, and rave,
Like that Caesonia to her Caius gave:
Who, plucking from the Forehead of the Fole
His Mother's Love, infus'd it in the Bowl:
The boiling Blood ran hissing in his Veins,
Till the mad Vapour mounted to his Brains.
The Thund'rer was not half so much on Fire,
When Iuno's Girdle kindled his Desire.
What Woman will not use the Poys'ning Trade,
When Caesar's Wife the Precedent has made?
Let Agripina's Mushroom be forgot;
Giv'n to a Slav'ring, Old, unuseful Sot;
That only clos'd the driveling Dotard's Eyes;
And sent his Godhead downward to the Skies.
But this fierce Potion, calls for Fire and Sword;
Nor spares the Commons, when it strikes the Lord:
So many Mischiefs were in one combin'd;
So much one single Poys'ner cost Mankind.
(pp. 121-2, ll. 794-819)
And Philters for th' unable Husband buys:
The Potion works not on the part design'd,
But turns his Brain, and stupifies his Mind.
The sotted Moon-Calf gapes, and staring on,
Sees his own Business by another done:
A long Oblivion, a benumming Frost,
Constrains his Head; and Yesterday is lost:
Some nimbler Juice wou'd make him foam, and rave,
Like that Caesonia to her Caius gave:
Who, plucking from the Forehead of the Fole
His Mother's Love, infus'd it in the Bowl:
The boiling Blood ran hissing in his Veins,
Till the mad Vapour mounted to his Brains.
The Thund'rer was not half so much on Fire,
When Iuno's Girdle kindled his Desire.
What Woman will not use the Poys'ning Trade,
When Caesar's Wife the Precedent has made?
Let Agripina's Mushroom be forgot;
Giv'n to a Slav'ring, Old, unuseful Sot;
That only clos'd the driveling Dotard's Eyes;
And sent his Godhead downward to the Skies.
But this fierce Potion, calls for Fire and Sword;
Nor spares the Commons, when it strikes the Lord:
So many Mischiefs were in one combin'd;
So much one single Poys'ner cost Mankind.
(pp. 121-2, ll. 794-819)
Categories
Citation
From 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
07/11/2013
