"Impossible! / Souls know no Conquerors."
— Dryden, John (1631-1700)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Jo. Hindmarsh
Date
1690
Metaphor
"Impossible! / Souls know no Conquerors."
Metaphor in Context
SEBASTIAN
Here satiate all your fury;
Let fortune empty her whole Quiver on me,
I have a Soul, that like an ample Shield
Can take in all; and verge enough for more.
I wou'd have conquer'd you; and ventur'd only
A narrow neck of Land for a third World;
To give my loosen'd Subjects room to play.
Fate was not mine,
Nor am I Fate's: Now I have pleas'd my longing,
And trod the ground which I beheld from far,
I beg no pity for this mouldring Clay:
For if you give it burial there it takes
Possession of your Earth:
If burnt and scatter'd in the air: the Winds
That strow my dust, diffuse my royalty,
And spread me o'er your Clime: for where one Atome
Of mine shall light; know there Sebastian Reigns.
MULEY-MOLUCH
What shall I do to conquer thee?
SEBASTIAN
Impossible!
Souls know no Conquerors.
MULEY-MOLUCH
I'll show thee for a Monster through my Affrick.
(I.i, p. 12)
Here satiate all your fury;
Let fortune empty her whole Quiver on me,
I have a Soul, that like an ample Shield
Can take in all; and verge enough for more.
I wou'd have conquer'd you; and ventur'd only
A narrow neck of Land for a third World;
To give my loosen'd Subjects room to play.
Fate was not mine,
Nor am I Fate's: Now I have pleas'd my longing,
And trod the ground which I beheld from far,
I beg no pity for this mouldring Clay:
For if you give it burial there it takes
Possession of your Earth:
If burnt and scatter'd in the air: the Winds
That strow my dust, diffuse my royalty,
And spread me o'er your Clime: for where one Atome
Of mine shall light; know there Sebastian Reigns.
MULEY-MOLUCH
What shall I do to conquer thee?
SEBASTIAN
Impossible!
Souls know no Conquerors.
MULEY-MOLUCH
I'll show thee for a Monster through my Affrick.
(I.i, p. 12)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
At least 16 entries in ESTC (1690, 1692, 1710, 1724, 1725, 1726, 1727, 1728, 1735, 1736, 1751, 1759, 1762, 1777).
Don Sebastian, King of Portugal: A Tragedy Acted at the Theatre Royal. Written by Mr. Dryden. (London: Printed for Jo. Hindmarsh, at the Golden Ball in Cornhil, 1690). <Link to ESTC><Link to LION>
Don Sebastian, King of Portugal: A Tragedy Acted at the Theatre Royal. Written by Mr. Dryden. (London: Printed for Jo. Hindmarsh, at the Golden Ball in Cornhil, 1690). <Link to ESTC><Link to LION>
Date of Entry
07/13/2014
