"Examine how your Humour is inclin'd, / And which the Ruling Passion of your Mind"

— Dillon, Wentworth, 4th Earl of Roscommon (1637-1685)


Date
1685
Metaphor
"Examine how your Humour is inclin'd, / And which the Ruling Passion of your Mind"
Metaphor in Context
Each Poet, with a different Talent writes,
One Praises, One Instructs, Another Bites.
Horace did ne're aspire to Epick Bays,
Nor lofty Maro stoop to Lyrick Lays.
Examine how your Humour is inclin'd,
And which the
Ruling Passion of your Mind;
Then, seek a Poet who your way do's bend,
And chuse an Author as you chuse a Friend.
United by this Sympathetick Bond,
You grow Familiar, Intimate and Fond;
Your thoughts, your Words, your Stiles, your Souls agree,
No Longer his Interpreter, but He.
Provenance
Searching "ruling passion" in HDIS (Poetry)
Theme
Ruling Passion
Date of Entry
05/18/2004

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.