"WHAT the grave triflers on this busy scene, / When they make use of this word REASON, mean, / I know not; but, according to my plan, / 'TIS LORD-CHEIF-JUSTICE in the COURT OF MAN, / Equally form'd to rule in age and youth, / The Friend of Virtue and the Guide to Truth."

— Churchill, Charles (1731-1764)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for the Author, and sold by W. Flexney
Date
April, 1761
Metaphor
"WHAT the grave triflers on this busy scene, / When they make use of this word REASON, mean, / I know not; but, according to my plan, / 'TIS LORD-CHEIF-JUSTICE in the COURT OF MAN, / Equally form'd to rule in age and youth, / The Friend of Virtue and the Guide to Truth."
Metaphor in Context
WHAT the grave triflers on this busy scene,
When they make use of this word REASON, mean,
I know not; but, according to my plan,
'TIS LORD-CHEIF-JUSTICE in the COURT OF MAN,
Equally form'd to rule in age and youth,
The Friend of Virtue and the Guide to Truth.

To HER I bow, whose sacred power I feel;
To HER decision make my last appeal;
Condemn'd by HER, applauding worlds, in vain,
Should tempt me to resume the Pen again:
By HER absolv'd, my course I'll still pursue:
If REASON's for me, GOD is for me too.
(p. 20)
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry); text replaced with that from ECCO-TCP.
Citation
8 entries in ESTC (1761, 1763).

Searching Poems of Charles Churchill ed. James Laver ([London: The King's Printers, 1933).

Text from The Apology. Addressed to the Critical Reviewers. By C. Churchill. (London: Printed for the Author, and sold by W. Flexney, near Gray’s-Inn-Gate, Holborn, 1761). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO-TCP>
Date of Entry
07/21/2006

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.