Weakness of mind may be water-like or wax-like
— Greville, Fulke, first Baron Brooke of Beauchamps Court (1554-1628)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by T. N. For Henry Herringman [etc.]
Date
1670
Metaphor
Weakness of mind may be water-like or wax-like
Metaphor in Context
For as in weak Estates, so in weak Minds,
To injure or oppress humanity
Stirs up Right, Wit, and Heart in divers kinds,
To shew how easily hazard makes men free;
Where prospect must appear to these weak kings
A sign that ruine flies with nimble wings.
This weakness which I mean hath divers kinds,
Some water-like, easie to take impression,
And like it leave not any print behind,
Which I omit as fit for no profession:
The other wax like, take, and keep a mind,
And may in strengths they have, not of their own,
Be helpt by common Duties to a Throne.
To injure or oppress humanity
Stirs up Right, Wit, and Heart in divers kinds,
To shew how easily hazard makes men free;
Where prospect must appear to these weak kings
A sign that ruine flies with nimble wings.
This weakness which I mean hath divers kinds,
Some water-like, easie to take impression,
And like it leave not any print behind,
Which I omit as fit for no profession:
The other wax like, take, and keep a mind,
And may in strengths they have, not of their own,
Be helpt by common Duties to a Throne.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "wax" and "mind" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
See The Remains of Sir Fulk Grevill Lord Brooke: Being Poems of Monarchy and Religion: Never Before Printed. (London: Printed by T. N[ewcombe] for Henry Herringman at the Sign of the Blew Anchor in the Lower Walk of the New Exchange, 1670). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
03/27/2005
