"Contrast them, curb them, spread them, or confine, / Ennoble these, and those forbid to shine; / With cooler shades ambition's fire allay, / And mildly melt the pomp of pride away; / Her rainbow robe from vanity remove, / Each pulse congenial with the' informing mind, / Each action station'd in its proper place, / Each virtue blooming with its native grace, / Each passion vigorous to its just degree, / And the fair whole a perfect symmetry."
— Cawthorn, James (1719-1761)
Author
Date
1755, 1771
Metaphor
"Contrast them, curb them, spread them, or confine, / Ennoble these, and those forbid to shine; / With cooler shades ambition's fire allay, / And mildly melt the pomp of pride away; / Her rainbow robe from vanity remove, / Each pulse congenial with the' informing mind, / Each action station'd in its proper place, / Each virtue blooming with its native grace, / Each passion vigorous to its just degree, / And the fair whole a perfect symmetry."
Metaphor in Context
Wouldst thou then reach what Rembrandt's genius knew,
And live the model that his pencil drew,
Form all thy life with all his warmth divine,
Great as his plan, and faultless as his line;
Let all thy passions, like his colours, play,
Strong without harshness, without glaring gay:
Contrast them, curb them, spread them, or confine,
Ennoble these, and those forbid to shine;
With cooler shades ambition's fire allay,
And mildly melt the pomp of pride away;
Her rainbow robe from vanity remove,
Each pulse congenial with the' informing mind,
Each action station'd in its proper place,
Each virtue blooming with its native grace,
Each passion vigorous to its just degree,
And the fair whole a perfect symmetry.
(pp. 158-159)
And live the model that his pencil drew,
Form all thy life with all his warmth divine,
Great as his plan, and faultless as his line;
Let all thy passions, like his colours, play,
Strong without harshness, without glaring gay:
Contrast them, curb them, spread them, or confine,
Ennoble these, and those forbid to shine;
With cooler shades ambition's fire allay,
And mildly melt the pomp of pride away;
Her rainbow robe from vanity remove,
Each pulse congenial with the' informing mind,
Each action station'd in its proper place,
Each virtue blooming with its native grace,
Each passion vigorous to its just degree,
And the fair whole a perfect symmetry.
(pp. 158-159)
Categories
Provenance
Reading Marjorie Nicholson's Newton Demands the Muse (Princeton: Princeton UP, 1946), 108.
Citation
"Spoken at the Anniversary Visitation of the Tunbridge School, 1755." At least 5 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1771, 1790, 1795, 1800).
See Poems, by the Rev. Mr. Cawthorn. Late Master of Tunbridge School. (London: Printed by W. Woodfall: and sold by S. Bladon, 1771). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
Text from The Poems of Hill, Cawthorn, and Bruce (Chiswick: C. Whittinham, 1822). <Link to Google Books>
See Poems, by the Rev. Mr. Cawthorn. Late Master of Tunbridge School. (London: Printed by W. Woodfall: and sold by S. Bladon, 1771). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
Text from The Poems of Hill, Cawthorn, and Bruce (Chiswick: C. Whittinham, 1822). <Link to Google Books>
Date of Entry
07/25/2014
