"[R]eviving joy and lingering gloom" may "Alternate empire o'er [the] soul assume."
— Crabbe, George (1754-1832)
Author
Date
1812
Metaphor
"[R]eviving joy and lingering gloom" may "Alternate empire o'er [the] soul assume."
Metaphor in Context
And now approaching to the Journey's end,
His anger fails, his thoughts to kindness tend,
He less offended feels, and rather fears t' offend:
Now gently rising, hope contends with doubt,
And casts a sunshine on the views without;
And still reviving joy and lingering gloom
Alternate empire o'er his soul assume;
Till, long perplex'd, he now began to find
The softer thoughts engross the settling mind:
He saw the mansion, and should quickly see
His Laura's self--and angry could he be?
No! the resentment melted all away--
"For this my grief a single smile will pay,"
Our trav'ller cried;--"And why should it offend,
"That one so good should have a pressing friend
"Grieve not, my heart! to find a favourite guest
"Thy pride and boast--ye selfish sorrows, rest;
"She will be kind, and I again be blest."
His anger fails, his thoughts to kindness tend,
He less offended feels, and rather fears t' offend:
Now gently rising, hope contends with doubt,
And casts a sunshine on the views without;
And still reviving joy and lingering gloom
Alternate empire o'er his soul assume;
Till, long perplex'd, he now began to find
The softer thoughts engross the settling mind:
He saw the mansion, and should quickly see
His Laura's self--and angry could he be?
No! the resentment melted all away--
"For this my grief a single smile will pay,"
Our trav'ller cried;--"And why should it offend,
"That one so good should have a pressing friend
"Grieve not, my heart! to find a favourite guest
"Thy pride and boast--ye selfish sorrows, rest;
"She will be kind, and I again be blest."
Categories
Provenance
Searching "empire" and "soul" in HDIS (Poetry).
Citation
George Crabbe. The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe: With His Letters and Journals, and His Life. Vol. III. London: J. Murray, 1834.
Date of Entry
08/11/2004
Date of Review
04/26/2007
