"While pride and pomp allure, and plenteous ease, / That is, till man's predominant passions cease, / Admire no longer at my slow increase."
— Dryden, John (1631-1700)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Tonson
Date
1687
Metaphor
"While pride and pomp allure, and plenteous ease, / That is, till man's predominant passions cease, / Admire no longer at my slow increase."
Metaphor in Context
"Your inference would be strong," the Hind replied,
"If yours were in effect the suffering side;
Your clergy's sons their own in peace possess,
Nor are their prospects in reversion less.
My proselytes are struck with awful dread,
Your bloody comet-laws hang blazing o'er their head;
The respite they enjoy but only lent,
The best they have to hope, protracted punishment.
Be judge yourself, if interest may prevail,
Which motives, yours or mine, will turn the scale.
While pride and pomp allure, and plenteous ease,
That is, till man's predominant passions cease,
Admire no longer at my slow increase.
"If yours were in effect the suffering side;
Your clergy's sons their own in peace possess,
Nor are their prospects in reversion less.
My proselytes are struck with awful dread,
Your bloody comet-laws hang blazing o'er their head;
The respite they enjoy but only lent,
The best they have to hope, protracted punishment.
Be judge yourself, if interest may prevail,
Which motives, yours or mine, will turn the scale.
While pride and pomp allure, and plenteous ease,
That is, till man's predominant passions cease,
Admire no longer at my slow increase.
Provenance
Searching HDIS for "ruling passion"
Theme
Ruling Passion
Date of Entry
05/25/2004
