"Vertues, and Vices, are to Realms confin'd: / And, Climates give a Tincture to the Mind."
— Philips, Ambrose (1674-1749)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for B. Lintot
Date
1722
Metaphor
"Vertues, and Vices, are to Realms confin'd: / And, Climates give a Tincture to the Mind."
Metaphor in Context
Prologue
Vertues, and Vices, are to Realms confin'd:
And, Climates give a Tincture to the Mind.
Still This, or That, Peculiar Inclination
Remains, Unalter'd;--and denotes a Nation.
Thus Rivers flow; thus Mountains, ever, stand;
The Marks, through every Age, of every Land.
Britons, you'll see, when Vanoc comes before yee,
The Love of Freedom is your ancient Glory.
The Romans, first, this Native Vertue broke;
Made us Polite;--and bow'd us to the Yoke.
The Saxons, then, Unpolish'd,--greatly Rude,
Strangers to Luxury,--and Servitude,
Reviv'd the British Manliness of Soul,
That spurns at Tyranny, nor brookes Controul.
In Time, another Set of Romans came;
And brought worse Slavery:--Though they chang'd the Name:
Tamed us with Luxuries of a different Kind;
And made plain Truth distasteful to the Mind.
By Nassaw's Aid, at last, we drive Them, hence;
And, once again, return to common Sense.
Vertues, and Vices, are to Realms confin'd:
And, Climates give a Tincture to the Mind.
Still This, or That, Peculiar Inclination
Remains, Unalter'd;--and denotes a Nation.
Thus Rivers flow; thus Mountains, ever, stand;
The Marks, through every Age, of every Land.
Britons, you'll see, when Vanoc comes before yee,
The Love of Freedom is your ancient Glory.
The Romans, first, this Native Vertue broke;
Made us Polite;--and bow'd us to the Yoke.
The Saxons, then, Unpolish'd,--greatly Rude,
Strangers to Luxury,--and Servitude,
Reviv'd the British Manliness of Soul,
That spurns at Tyranny, nor brookes Controul.
In Time, another Set of Romans came;
And brought worse Slavery:--Though they chang'd the Name:
Tamed us with Luxuries of a different Kind;
And made plain Truth distasteful to the Mind.
By Nassaw's Aid, at last, we drive Them, hence;
And, once again, return to common Sense.
Categories
Provenance
ECCO-TCP
Citation
At least 4 entries in the ESTC (1722, 1725).
The Briton: A Tragedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane by His Majesty's Servants. By Mr. Philips. (London: Printed for B. Lintot, 1722). <Link to ECCO>
The Briton: A Tragedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane by His Majesty's Servants. By Mr. Philips. (London: Printed for B. Lintot, 1722). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
08/25/2013
