"My favours shall deface the memory / Of past afflictions: on a soul secure / In native innocence, or grief or joy / Shou'd make no deeper prints than air retains; / Where fleet alike the vulture and the dove, / And leave no trace."

— Fenton, Elijah (1683-1730)

Author

Fenton, Elijah (1683-1730)

Work Title

Mariamne. A Tragedy.

Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Tonson
Date
February 22, 1723
Metaphor
"My favours shall deface the memory / Of past afflictions: on a soul secure / In native innocence, or grief or joy / Shou'd make no deeper prints than air retains; / Where fleet alike the vulture and the dove, / And leave no trace."
Metaphor in Context
MARIAMNE
Poor Arsinoe!
My favours shall deface the memory
Of past afflictions: on a soul secure
In native innocence, or grief or joy
Shou'd make no deeper prints than air retains;
Where fleet alike the vulture and the dove,
And leave no trace. Blind fortune that bestows
The perishable toys of wealth and pow'r,
At random oft resumes them, pleas'd to make
An hurricane of life: but the firm mind
Safe on exalted virtue reigns sedate,
Superior to the giddy whirls of fate.
(p. 12)
Categories
Impressions::Print Uncategorized::Air Animals::Vulture Animals::Dove Uncategorized::Trace
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>
Date of Entry
08/20/2013

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.