"If your ill-judging choice mis-lead your heart, / To meet his passion with an equal flame"
— Fenton, Elijah (1683-1730)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Tonson
Date
February 22, 1723
Metaphor
"If your ill-judging choice mis-lead your heart, / To meet his passion with an equal flame"
Metaphor in Context
MARIAMNE
What pow'rful cause
Urg'd you to hear a vain diviner tell
His waking dreams? Perhaps you went to know
What happy star presided o'er the love,
Which Sohemus I hear address'd to you:
If so, I'll be your oracle; forbear
T' enquire the doubtful omens of the sky,
And fix your faith on this unerring truth:
If your ill-judging choice mis-lead your heart,
To meet his passion with an equal flame;
Henceforth for ever banish'd from my sight,
In exile you shall end an odious life;
Attended only in that friendless state
By black remorse, which step by step pursues
Th' ingrateful and the false.
(p. 10)
What pow'rful cause
Urg'd you to hear a vain diviner tell
His waking dreams? Perhaps you went to know
What happy star presided o'er the love,
Which Sohemus I hear address'd to you:
If so, I'll be your oracle; forbear
T' enquire the doubtful omens of the sky,
And fix your faith on this unerring truth:
If your ill-judging choice mis-lead your heart,
To meet his passion with an equal flame;
Henceforth for ever banish'd from my sight,
In exile you shall end an odious life;
Attended only in that friendless state
By black remorse, which step by step pursues
Th' ingrateful and the false.
(p. 10)
Categories
Provenance
LION
Citation
First performed February 22, 1723. Over 16 entries in the ESTC (1723, 1726, 1728, 1735, 1745, 1759, 1760, 1768, 1774, 1777, 1781, 1794).
Mariamne. A Tragedy. Acted at the Theatre Royal in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Written by Mr. Fenton (London: Printed for J. Tonson, 1723). <Link to ECCO-TCP>
Mariamne. A Tragedy. Acted at the Theatre Royal in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. Written by Mr. Fenton (London: Printed for J. Tonson, 1723). <Link to ECCO-TCP>
Date of Entry
08/20/2013
