"Some livelier spark of heaven, and more refined / From earthly dross, fills the great poet's mind."
— Duke, Richard (1658-1711)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. T. and are to be Sold by W. Davis in Amen-Corner
Date
1681
Metaphor
"Some livelier spark of heaven, and more refined / From earthly dross, fills the great poet's mind."
Metaphor in Context
I thought,--forgive my sin,--the boasted fire
Of poets' souls did long ago expire;
Of folly or of madness did accuse
The wretch that thought himself possessed with muse;
Laughed at the God within, that did inspire
With more than human thoughts the tuneful quire;
But sure 'tis more than fancy, or the dream
Of rhymers slumb'ring by the muses' stream.
Some livelier spark of heaven, and more refined
From earthly dross, fills the great poet's mind.
Witness these mighty and immortal lines,
Through each of which th'informing genius shines.
Scarce a diviner flame inspired the king
Of whom thy muse does so sublimely sing.
Not David's self could in a nobler verse
His gloriously offending son rehearse,
Though in his breast the prophet's fury met
The father's fondness, and the poet's wit.
(ll. 1-18)
Of poets' souls did long ago expire;
Of folly or of madness did accuse
The wretch that thought himself possessed with muse;
Laughed at the God within, that did inspire
With more than human thoughts the tuneful quire;
But sure 'tis more than fancy, or the dream
Of rhymers slumb'ring by the muses' stream.
Some livelier spark of heaven, and more refined
From earthly dross, fills the great poet's mind.
Witness these mighty and immortal lines,
Through each of which th'informing genius shines.
Scarce a diviner flame inspired the king
Of whom thy muse does so sublimely sing.
Not David's self could in a nobler verse
His gloriously offending son rehearse,
Though in his breast the prophet's fury met
The father's fondness, and the poet's wit.
(ll. 1-18)
Categories
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry); Found again "dross" and "mind"
Citation
The Works of John Dryden: Illustrated with Notes, Historical, Critical, and Explanatory, and a Life of the Author. Ed. George Saintsbury, Walter Scott. Published by W. Paterson, 1884.
Theme
Refinement
Date of Entry
05/11/2005
Date of Review
09/24/2008
