"O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream / My great example, as it is my theme! / Though deep, yet clear, though gentle, yet not dull, / Strong without rage, without ore-flowing full."
— Denham, John, Sir (1615-1669)
Work Title
Date
1642, 1655, 1668
Metaphor
"O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream / My great example, as it is my theme! / Though deep, yet clear, though gentle, yet not dull, / Strong without rage, without ore-flowing full."
Metaphor in Context
My eye descending from the Hill, surveys
Where Thames amongst the wanton vallies strays.
Thames, the most lov'd of all the Oceans sons,
By his old Sire to his embraces runs,
Hasting to pay his tribute to the Sea,
Like mortal life to meet Eternity.
Though with those streams he no resemblance hold,
Whose foam is Amber, and their Gravel Gold;
His genuine, and less guilty wealth t'explore,
Search not his bottom, but survey his shore;
Ore which he kindly spreads his spacious wing,
And hatches plenty for th'ensuing Spring.
Nor then destroys it with too fond a stay,
Like Mothers which their Infants overlay.
Nor with a sudden and impetuous wave,
Like profuse Kings, resumes the wealth he gave.
No unexpected inundations spoyl
The mowers hopes, nor mock the plowmans toyl:
But God-like his unwearied Bounty flows;
First loves to do, then loves the Good he does.
Nor are his Blessings to his banks confin'd,
But free, and common, as the Sea or Wind;
When he to boast, or to disperse his stores
Full of the tributes of his grateful shores,
Visits the world, and in his flying towers
Brings home to us, and makes both Indies ours;
Finds wealth where 'tis, bestows it where it wants
Cities in deserts, woods in Cities plants.
So that to us no thing, no place is strange,
While his fair bosom is the worlds exchange.
O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream
My great example, as it is my theme!
Though deep, yet clear, though gentle, yet not dull,
Strong without rage, without ore-flowing full.
Heaven her Eridanus no more shall boast,
Whose Fame in thine, like lesser Currents lost,
Thy Nobler streams shall visit Jove's aboads,
To shine amongst the Stars, and bath the Gods.
(ll. 159-196; cf. pp. 9-10 in 1655 ed.)
Where Thames amongst the wanton vallies strays.
Thames, the most lov'd of all the Oceans sons,
By his old Sire to his embraces runs,
Hasting to pay his tribute to the Sea,
Like mortal life to meet Eternity.
Though with those streams he no resemblance hold,
Whose foam is Amber, and their Gravel Gold;
His genuine, and less guilty wealth t'explore,
Search not his bottom, but survey his shore;
Ore which he kindly spreads his spacious wing,
And hatches plenty for th'ensuing Spring.
Nor then destroys it with too fond a stay,
Like Mothers which their Infants overlay.
Nor with a sudden and impetuous wave,
Like profuse Kings, resumes the wealth he gave.
No unexpected inundations spoyl
The mowers hopes, nor mock the plowmans toyl:
But God-like his unwearied Bounty flows;
First loves to do, then loves the Good he does.
Nor are his Blessings to his banks confin'd,
But free, and common, as the Sea or Wind;
When he to boast, or to disperse his stores
Full of the tributes of his grateful shores,
Visits the world, and in his flying towers
Brings home to us, and makes both Indies ours;
Finds wealth where 'tis, bestows it where it wants
Cities in deserts, woods in Cities plants.
So that to us no thing, no place is strange,
While his fair bosom is the worlds exchange.
O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream
My great example, as it is my theme!
Though deep, yet clear, though gentle, yet not dull,
Strong without rage, without ore-flowing full.
Heaven her Eridanus no more shall boast,
Whose Fame in thine, like lesser Currents lost,
Thy Nobler streams shall visit Jove's aboads,
To shine amongst the Stars, and bath the Gods.
(ll. 159-196; cf. pp. 9-10 in 1655 ed.)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
At least 13 entries in ESTC (1642, 1643, 1650, 1653, 1655, 1668, 1676, 1709, 1713, 1794). Unauthorized version of the poem published in 1642, progressively revised. First authorized edition in 1655.
See Coopers Hill. A Poëme. (London: Printed for Tho. Walkley, and are to be to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Flying Horse between York-house and Britaines Burse, 1642).<Link to ESTC>
See Coopers Hill. Written in the Yeare 1640. Now Printed from a Perfect Copy; and a Corrected Impression. By John Denham Esq. (London: Printed for Humphrey Moseley, and are to be sold at his shop, at the signe of the Princes Armes in St Pauls Church-yard, 1655). <Link to ESTC>
Text from Jack Lynch's online "reading text," based on the version of the poem published in Poems and Translations (1668) <Link>.
See Coopers Hill. A Poëme. (London: Printed for Tho. Walkley, and are to be to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Flying Horse between York-house and Britaines Burse, 1642).<Link to ESTC>
See Coopers Hill. Written in the Yeare 1640. Now Printed from a Perfect Copy; and a Corrected Impression. By John Denham Esq. (London: Printed for Humphrey Moseley, and are to be sold at his shop, at the signe of the Princes Armes in St Pauls Church-yard, 1655). <Link to ESTC>
Text from Jack Lynch's online "reading text," based on the version of the poem published in Poems and Translations (1668) <Link>.
Date of Entry
07/08/2014
