"Can the Queen / Pierce to the close recesses of the soul? / Are thoughts there visible, like children's toys / Kept in a chrystal case?"
— Fenton, Elijah (1683-1730)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Tonson
Date
February 22, 1723
Metaphor
"Can the Queen / Pierce to the close recesses of the soul? / Are thoughts there visible, like children's toys / Kept in a chrystal case?"
Metaphor in Context
HEROD
Can the Queen
Pierce to the close recesses of the soul?
Are thoughts there visible, like children's toys
Kept in a chrystal case? Does she retain
Dæmons, to sit secure from mortal sight,
In Princes cabinets to learn the summ
Of secret counsels? Told they this decree;
If Cæsar, to revenge the sacred faith
I held with Anthony, shou'd to the sword
Sentence my head, that her's shou'd likewise fall;
Lest the proud successor who seiz'd my throne,
Shou'd triumph in my bed?--No! That resolve
A carnal fiend imparted; and she paid
His service with her honour!--
(p. 71)
Can the Queen
Pierce to the close recesses of the soul?
Are thoughts there visible, like children's toys
Kept in a chrystal case? Does she retain
Dæmons, to sit secure from mortal sight,
In Princes cabinets to learn the summ
Of secret counsels? Told they this decree;
If Cæsar, to revenge the sacred faith
I held with Anthony, shou'd to the sword
Sentence my head, that her's shou'd likewise fall;
Lest the proud successor who seiz'd my throne,
Shou'd triumph in my bed?--No! That resolve
A carnal fiend imparted; and she paid
His service with her honour!--
(p. 71)
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
