"Thy future doom / Thus pictur'd to my view, so wrap'd my soul / In clouds of deep despair, I strait comply'd / To give the filial pledge."
— Fenton, Elijah (1683-1730)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Tonson
Date
February 22, 1723
Metaphor
"Thy future doom / Thus pictur'd to my view, so wrap'd my soul / In clouds of deep despair, I strait comply'd / To give the filial pledge."
Metaphor in Context
HEROD
Perseus led in chains through Rome :
Where the sad fate of Macedon appear'd
Prophetic of our own, shou'd we like her
Boast a false vigor, and provoke the rage
Of Rome, unequal to sustain her arms.
There fancy figur'd to my mournful eyes,
The wealth of Palestine in chargers pil'd:
Our shields and spears on moving trophies hung,
Ingloriously revers'd: and then succeed
Nobles, and matrons, with a virgin train,
In long procession through th'unpitying crowd:
But oh! what stings of grief and horror pierc'd
My agonizing heart, when there I view'd
A royal captive, far transcending all
In matchless beauty, and majestic woe,
Her form resembling thine! On her a throng
Of gay Patricians fix'd their wond'ring eyes,
Enamour'd; and with rival passion strove,
Who first shou'd prostrate to his brutal joys
Her unpolluted charms. Thy future doom
Thus pictur'd to my view, so wrap'd my soul
In clouds of deep despair, I strait comply'd
To give the filial pledge.
(p. 34)
Perseus led in chains through Rome :
Where the sad fate of Macedon appear'd
Prophetic of our own, shou'd we like her
Boast a false vigor, and provoke the rage
Of Rome, unequal to sustain her arms.
There fancy figur'd to my mournful eyes,
The wealth of Palestine in chargers pil'd:
Our shields and spears on moving trophies hung,
Ingloriously revers'd: and then succeed
Nobles, and matrons, with a virgin train,
In long procession through th'unpitying crowd:
But oh! what stings of grief and horror pierc'd
My agonizing heart, when there I view'd
A royal captive, far transcending all
In matchless beauty, and majestic woe,
Her form resembling thine! On her a throng
Of gay Patricians fix'd their wond'ring eyes,
Enamour'd; and with rival passion strove,
Who first shou'd prostrate to his brutal joys
Her unpolluted charms. Thy future doom
Thus pictur'd to my view, so wrap'd my soul
In clouds of deep despair, I strait comply'd
To give the filial pledge.
(p. 34)
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
