Fancy "is engendered in the eyes, / With gazing fed; and fancy dies / In the cradle where it lies."

— Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)


Date
1600
Metaphor
Fancy "is engendered in the eyes, / With gazing fed; and fancy dies / In the cradle where it lies."
Metaphor in Context
ONE FROM PORTIA'S TRAIN
Tell me where is fancy bred,
Or in the heart, or in the head?
How begot, how nourishèd?

ALL
Reply, reply.

ONE FROM PORTIA'S TRAIN
It is engendered in the eyes,
With gazing fed; and fancy dies
In the cradle where it lies.

Let us all ring fancy's knell.
I'll begin it: ding, dong, bell.

ALL
Ding, dong, bell.
(III.ii.63-72)
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
08/11/2003
Date of Review
10/22/2003

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