"If a single thought / Were tinctur'd with disloyalty, this hand / Shou'd pierce my heart to drive the rebel out."
— Fenton, Elijah (1683-1730)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Tonson
Date
February 22, 1723
Metaphor
"If a single thought / Were tinctur'd with disloyalty, this hand / Shou'd pierce my heart to drive the rebel out."
Metaphor in Context
ARSINOE
If a single thought
Were tinctur'd with disloyalty, this hand
Shou'd pierce my heart to drive the rebel out.
Your strict command with pleasure I obey;
For at the sight of Salomé, my breast
Shivers with chilling horror, and revolves
The destiny which a Chaldæan seer
Of late foretold: The pious sage had pass'd
Full sixty winters in a private cell;
His locks were silver'd o'er with reverend white;
And on his cheeks appear'd the pale effect
Of studious abstinence: His custom was
In his small hermitage t' outwatch the moon,
To marshal in his schemes the host of heav'n;
And from their ruling influence at the birth,
Form'd his predictions. As the Princess pass'd,
I ask'd him if his foresight cou'd discern
The colour of her fate: he answer'd, black!
'Tis black checquer'd with blood! deep in her breast
I see the dagger doom'd by heav'ns decree
To cut her half-spun thread.
(pp. 10-11)
If a single thought
Were tinctur'd with disloyalty, this hand
Shou'd pierce my heart to drive the rebel out.
Your strict command with pleasure I obey;
For at the sight of Salomé, my breast
Shivers with chilling horror, and revolves
The destiny which a Chaldæan seer
Of late foretold: The pious sage had pass'd
Full sixty winters in a private cell;
His locks were silver'd o'er with reverend white;
And on his cheeks appear'd the pale effect
Of studious abstinence: His custom was
In his small hermitage t' outwatch the moon,
To marshal in his schemes the host of heav'n;
And from their ruling influence at the birth,
Form'd his predictions. As the Princess pass'd,
I ask'd him if his foresight cou'd discern
The colour of her fate: he answer'd, black!
'Tis black checquer'd with blood! deep in her breast
I see the dagger doom'd by heav'ns decree
To cut her half-spun thread.
(pp. 10-11)
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
