Atheists should "No more at Reason's solemn Bar appear, / Hardy no more Scholastic Weapons bear."
— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for S. Buckley and J. Tonson
Date
1712
Metaphor
Atheists should "No more at Reason's solemn Bar appear, / Hardy no more Scholastic Weapons bear."
Metaphor in Context
Still, vanquish'd Atheists, will you keep the Field,
And hard in Error still refuse to yield?
See, all your broken Arms lye spread around,
And ignominious Rout deforms the Ground.
Be Wise, and once admonish'd by a Foe,
Where lies your Strength, and where your Weakness know.
No more at Reason's solemn Bar appear,
Hardy no more Scholastic Weapons bear.
Disband your feeble Forces, and decline
The War, no more in Tinsel Armour shine;
Nor shake your Bullrush Spears, but swift repair
To your strong Place of Arms, the Scoffer's Chair;
And thence supported with a mocking Ring,
Sarcastic Darts and keen Invectives fling
Against your Foes, and scornful at your Feasts
Religion vanquish with decisive Jests:
Arm'd with resistless Laughter Heav'n assail,
Relinquish Reason, and let Mirth prevail.
(VII, ll. 644-661)
And hard in Error still refuse to yield?
See, all your broken Arms lye spread around,
And ignominious Rout deforms the Ground.
Be Wise, and once admonish'd by a Foe,
Where lies your Strength, and where your Weakness know.
No more at Reason's solemn Bar appear,
Hardy no more Scholastic Weapons bear.
Disband your feeble Forces, and decline
The War, no more in Tinsel Armour shine;
Nor shake your Bullrush Spears, but swift repair
To your strong Place of Arms, the Scoffer's Chair;
And thence supported with a mocking Ring,
Sarcastic Darts and keen Invectives fling
Against your Foes, and scornful at your Feasts
Religion vanquish with decisive Jests:
Arm'd with resistless Laughter Heav'n assail,
Relinquish Reason, and let Mirth prevail.
(VII, ll. 644-661)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
At least 8 entries in ESTC (1712, 1715, 1718, 1736, 1797).
Text from Sir Richard Blackmore, Creation: A Philosophical Poem. Demonstrating the Existence and Providence of a God, 2nd ed. (London: S. Buckley and J. Tonson, 1712). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
Other Online Editions: first edition (also published in 1712) is available <Link to ECCO>. See also 3rd edition (1715) <Link to Google Books>.
Text from Sir Richard Blackmore, Creation: A Philosophical Poem. Demonstrating the Existence and Providence of a God, 2nd ed. (London: S. Buckley and J. Tonson, 1712). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
Other Online Editions: first edition (also published in 1712) is available <Link to ECCO>. See also 3rd edition (1715) <Link to Google Books>.
Date of Entry
08/07/2013
