"Th' incessant care and labour of his mind / Hath wrought the mure that should confine it in / So thin that life looks through and will break out."
— Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Work Title
Date
1598
Metaphor
"Th' incessant care and labour of his mind / Hath wrought the mure that should confine it in / So thin that life looks through and will break out."
Metaphor in Context
KING HENRY
And wherefore should these good news make me sick?
Will fortune never come with both hands full,
But write her fair words still in foulest letters?
She either gives a stomach and no food --
Such are the poor in health -- or else a feast,
And takes away the stomach -- such are the rich,
That have abundance and enjoy it not.
I should rejoice now at this happy news,
And now my sight fails, and my brain is giddy.
O me! Come near me now; I am much ill.
He swoons
GLOUCESTER
Comfort, your majesty!
CLARENCE
O my royal father!
WESTMORLAND
My sovereign lord, cheer up yourself, look up.
WARWICK
Be patient, princes; you do know these fits
Are with his highness very ordinary.
Stand from him, give him air; he'll straight be well.
CLARENCE
No, no, he cannot long hold out these pangs.
Th' incessant care and labour of his mind
Hath wrought the mure that should confine it in
So thin that life looks through and will break out.
GLOUCESTER
The people fear me, for they do observe
Unfathered heirs and loathly births of nature.
The seasons change their manners, as the year
Had found some months asleep and leaped them over.
CLARENCE
The river hath thrice flowed, no ebb between,
And the old folk, time's doting chronicles,
Say it did so a little time before
That our great grandsire Edward sicked and died.
WARWICK
Speak lower, princes, for the King recovers.
GLOUCESTER
This apoplexy will certain be his end.
KING HENRY
I pray you take me up and bear me hence
Into some other chamber; softly, pray.
(IV.iii.102-132)
And wherefore should these good news make me sick?
Will fortune never come with both hands full,
But write her fair words still in foulest letters?
She either gives a stomach and no food --
Such are the poor in health -- or else a feast,
And takes away the stomach -- such are the rich,
That have abundance and enjoy it not.
I should rejoice now at this happy news,
And now my sight fails, and my brain is giddy.
O me! Come near me now; I am much ill.
He swoons
GLOUCESTER
Comfort, your majesty!
CLARENCE
O my royal father!
WESTMORLAND
My sovereign lord, cheer up yourself, look up.
WARWICK
Be patient, princes; you do know these fits
Are with his highness very ordinary.
Stand from him, give him air; he'll straight be well.
CLARENCE
No, no, he cannot long hold out these pangs.
Th' incessant care and labour of his mind
Hath wrought the mure that should confine it in
So thin that life looks through and will break out.
GLOUCESTER
The people fear me, for they do observe
Unfathered heirs and loathly births of nature.
The seasons change their manners, as the year
Had found some months asleep and leaped them over.
CLARENCE
The river hath thrice flowed, no ebb between,
And the old folk, time's doting chronicles,
Say it did so a little time before
That our great grandsire Edward sicked and died.
WARWICK
Speak lower, princes, for the King recovers.
GLOUCESTER
This apoplexy will certain be his end.
KING HENRY
I pray you take me up and bear me hence
Into some other chamber; softly, pray.
(IV.iii.102-132)
Categories
Provenance
HDIS
Citation
Shakespeare, William. The Complete Works. Oxford Shakespeare. Electronic Edition for the IBM PC. Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor, Editor.
Date of Entry
08/26/2003
