"GRACE though she could have with one single dart / The stubborn Will pierc'd th'row her Steely heart."
— Pordage, Samuel (bap. 1633, d. c. 1691)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by T. R. for Lodowick Lloyd
Date
1661
Metaphor
"GRACE though she could have with one single dart / The stubborn Will pierc'd th'row her Steely heart."
Metaphor in Context
A tender Infant's Cry ne'r Mother call'd
With more maternal speed (that what it ail'd
She might know; doubting each Stone in the Way
It's tender legs might to a fall betray)
Then GRACE new summon'd by the Pilgrims Cry,
Hasted down from her Throne of Majesty.
Her Beauty made his adversaries start,
The Will shrunk back and shew'd a fainter heart.
GRACE though she could have with one single dart
The stubborn Will pierc'd th'row her Steely heart.
Laid by her threatning Weapons, and did shew
The suavity she ever us'd to do:
And smiling, thus unto the Will she spake,
What is the reason that you would forsake
The Pilgrim to his Blisse? Shall pleasures? sence?
And Passions strong conspiracy from thence
Detain you? 'tis the World and Sathan that
Hath circumvented you into this Plot.
All what they promise are meer shaddows, know
That all things be so that are here below.
Why fear this Gate? This will indeed conduct
You to a higher Sphear; your Way obstruct
Back to the Dunghill Earth: what then? if here
You pleasures find, much more in that bright Sphear
You shall unto Eternity enjoy;
And there where is an everlasting Day
You shall reside, inthron'd in Blisse shall be
One with that Will which first created thee.
Shall Earth to Heav'n be prefer'd? below
How full of uglinesse do all things show
To eyes which heav'n's Beauties see; dung ne're
Did unto Jewels half so vile appear.
Wilt thou not then forsake this world, and passe
Thorow this Gate unto this blessed place?
Let my entreats of Love prevail so far,
When for your happinesse they spoken are:
Be not a Captive to the world, but be
One unto Heav'n, and that is to be free.
With more maternal speed (that what it ail'd
She might know; doubting each Stone in the Way
It's tender legs might to a fall betray)
Then GRACE new summon'd by the Pilgrims Cry,
Hasted down from her Throne of Majesty.
Her Beauty made his adversaries start,
The Will shrunk back and shew'd a fainter heart.
GRACE though she could have with one single dart
The stubborn Will pierc'd th'row her Steely heart.
Laid by her threatning Weapons, and did shew
The suavity she ever us'd to do:
And smiling, thus unto the Will she spake,
What is the reason that you would forsake
The Pilgrim to his Blisse? Shall pleasures? sence?
And Passions strong conspiracy from thence
Detain you? 'tis the World and Sathan that
Hath circumvented you into this Plot.
All what they promise are meer shaddows, know
That all things be so that are here below.
Why fear this Gate? This will indeed conduct
You to a higher Sphear; your Way obstruct
Back to the Dunghill Earth: what then? if here
You pleasures find, much more in that bright Sphear
You shall unto Eternity enjoy;
And there where is an everlasting Day
You shall reside, inthron'd in Blisse shall be
One with that Will which first created thee.
Shall Earth to Heav'n be prefer'd? below
How full of uglinesse do all things show
To eyes which heav'n's Beauties see; dung ne're
Did unto Jewels half so vile appear.
Wilt thou not then forsake this world, and passe
Thorow this Gate unto this blessed place?
Let my entreats of Love prevail so far,
When for your happinesse they spoken are:
Be not a Captive to the world, but be
One unto Heav'n, and that is to be free.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "steel" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Samuel Pordage, Mundorum Explicatio Wherein are Couched the Mysteries of the External, Internal, and Eternal worlds (London: T.R. for Lodowick Lloyd, 1661). <Link to EEBO>
Date of Entry
06/09/2005
