"A Weak mind complains before it is overtaken with evil, and as Birds are affrighted with the noise of the Sling, so the infirm soul anticipates its troubles by its own fearful apprehensions, and falls under them before they are yet arrived."
— Wanley, Nathaniel (1634-1680)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Thomas Basset
Date
1678
Metaphor
"A Weak mind complains before it is overtaken with evil, and as Birds are affrighted with the noise of the Sling, so the infirm soul anticipates its troubles by its own fearful apprehensions, and falls under them before they are yet arrived."
Metaphor in Context
A Weak mind complains before it is overtaken with evil, and as Birds are affrighted with the noise of the Sling, so the infirm soul anticipates its troubles by its own fearful apprehensions, and falls under them before they are yet arrived. But what greater madness is there, than to be tormented with futurities, and not so much to reserve our selves to miseries against they come, as to invite and hasten them towards us of our own accord? The best remedy against this tottering state of the soul, is a good and clear Conscience; which if a man want, he will tremble in the midst of all his armed guards
(p. 437)
(p. 437)
Categories
Provenance
searching "soliloquy" in EEBO
Citation
At least 8 entries in ESTC (1678, 1704, 1774, 1788, 1790, 1791, 1796).
The Wonders of the Little World, or, a General History of Man in Six Books: Wherein by Many Thousands of Examples Is Shewed What Man Hath Been from the First Ages of the World to These Times, in Respect of His Body, Senses, Passions, Affections, His Virtues and Perfections, His Vices and Defects, His Quality, Vocation and Profession, and Many Other Particulars Not Reducible to Any of the Former Heads: Collected from the Writings of the Most Approved Historians, Philosophers, Physicians, Philologists and Others (London: Printed for Thomas Basset, at the George near St. Dunstans Church in Fleet street, 1678). <Link to ESTC>
The Wonders of the Little World, or, a General History of Man in Six Books: Wherein by Many Thousands of Examples Is Shewed What Man Hath Been from the First Ages of the World to These Times, in Respect of His Body, Senses, Passions, Affections, His Virtues and Perfections, His Vices and Defects, His Quality, Vocation and Profession, and Many Other Particulars Not Reducible to Any of the Former Heads: Collected from the Writings of the Most Approved Historians, Philosophers, Physicians, Philologists and Others (London: Printed for Thomas Basset, at the George near St. Dunstans Church in Fleet street, 1678). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
03/24/2004
Date of Review
07/31/2009
