"Thoughts as a Pen do write upon the Braine; / The Letters which wise Thoughts do write, are plaine."
— Cavendish, Margaret (1623-1673)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by T.R. for J. Martin and J. Allestryre
Date
1653
Metaphor
"Thoughts as a Pen do write upon the Braine; / The Letters which wise Thoughts do write, are plaine."
Metaphor in Context
Thoughts as a Pen do write upon the Braine;
The Letters which wise Thoughts do write, are plaine.
Fooles Scribble, Scrabble, and make many a Blot,
Which makes them Non-sense speak, they know not what.
Or Thoughts like Pencils draw still to the Life,
And Fancies mixt, as colours give delight.
Sad melancholy Thoughts are for Shadowes plac'd,
By which the lighter Fancies are more grac'd.
As through a dark, and watry Cloud, more bright,
The Sun breakes forth with his Resplendent Light.
Or like to Night's black Mantle, where each Star
Doth clearer seem, so lighter Fancies are.
Some like to Rain-bowes various Colours shew,
So round the Braine Fantastick Fancies grow.
The Letters which wise Thoughts do write, are plaine.
Fooles Scribble, Scrabble, and make many a Blot,
Which makes them Non-sense speak, they know not what.
Or Thoughts like Pencils draw still to the Life,
And Fancies mixt, as colours give delight.
Sad melancholy Thoughts are for Shadowes plac'd,
By which the lighter Fancies are more grac'd.
As through a dark, and watry Cloud, more bright,
The Sun breakes forth with his Resplendent Light.
Or like to Night's black Mantle, where each Star
Doth clearer seem, so lighter Fancies are.
Some like to Rain-bowes various Colours shew,
So round the Braine Fantastick Fancies grow.
Categories
Provenance
Reading Ron Cooleys' website. <http://www.usask.ca/english/phoenix/cavendishpoems1.htm>.
Citation
Text from Poems and Phancies (London: Printed by William Wilson, 1664). <Link to EEBO>
Poems, and Fancies Written by the Right Honourable, the Lady Margaret Newcastle (London: Printed by T.R. for J. Martin, and J. Allestrye, 1653). <Link to EEBO>
Poems, and Fancies Written by the Right Honourable, the Lady Margaret Newcastle (London: Printed by T.R. for J. Martin, and J. Allestrye, 1653). <Link to EEBO>
Date of Entry
12/15/2006
Date of Review
04/26/2007
