"His Soul appears like Paper white, / That yet had scarce bore word aright."
— Speed, Samuel (bap. 1633, d. 1679?)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by J. C. for S. S.
Date
1677
Metaphor
"His Soul appears like Paper white, / That yet had scarce bore word aright."
Metaphor in Context
Earths little Morsel, Man's small Letter,
And Adam's Copy; no one better
Before he tasted Eve:
Nature's fresh Picture drawn in oyl,
Which time and handling oft doth spoil.
His Soul appears like Paper white,
That yet had scarce bore word aright;
Neither knew how to grieve.
But purest colours, without pains,
Are subject most to spots and stains.
He is above the tempts of Devil,
Since he can't understand an evil.
His days are raw and dull:
Nor hath he yet agreed with sin
To banish joys, let sorrows in.
He cannot yet be counted wise;
And being dumb, he with his eyes
Sings silent tunes of Lull.
He kisses all, doth them approve;
His Innocency is his Love.
Nature and Parents, much alike,
Do sometimes dandle, sometimes strike.
With hidden sugred bait
They him intice, and he doth sup
Whate're he finds within the Cup.
Could his weak body finde the way
To Bliss, and here no longer stay,
He'd have a happy fate.
Not knowing sin, or mortal crime,
He'd reach Eternity betime.
(pp. 76-7, ll. 1-30)
And Adam's Copy; no one better
Before he tasted Eve:
Nature's fresh Picture drawn in oyl,
Which time and handling oft doth spoil.
His Soul appears like Paper white,
That yet had scarce bore word aright;
Neither knew how to grieve.
But purest colours, without pains,
Are subject most to spots and stains.
He is above the tempts of Devil,
Since he can't understand an evil.
His days are raw and dull:
Nor hath he yet agreed with sin
To banish joys, let sorrows in.
He cannot yet be counted wise;
And being dumb, he with his eyes
Sings silent tunes of Lull.
He kisses all, doth them approve;
His Innocency is his Love.
Nature and Parents, much alike,
Do sometimes dandle, sometimes strike.
With hidden sugred bait
They him intice, and he doth sup
Whate're he finds within the Cup.
Could his weak body finde the way
To Bliss, and here no longer stay,
He'd have a happy fate.
Not knowing sin, or mortal crime,
He'd reach Eternity betime.
(pp. 76-7, ll. 1-30)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "paper" and "soul" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
2 entries in ESTC (1677).
Text from Prison-Pietie: or, Meditations Divine and Moral. Digested into Poetical Heads, On Mixt and Various Subjects. Whereunto is added A Panegyrick to The Right Reverend, and Most Nobly descended, Henry, Lord Bishop of London. By Samuel Speed, Prisoner in Ludgate, London. (London: Printed by J[ames] C[ottrell], 1677). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO>
Text from Prison-Pietie: or, Meditations Divine and Moral. Digested into Poetical Heads, On Mixt and Various Subjects. Whereunto is added A Panegyrick to The Right Reverend, and Most Nobly descended, Henry, Lord Bishop of London. By Samuel Speed, Prisoner in Ludgate, London. (London: Printed by J[ames] C[ottrell], 1677). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO>
Theme
Blank Slate
Date of Entry
03/26/2005
