Daughter of Jove, relentless power, Thou tamer of the human breast, Whose iron scourge and tort'ring hour The bad affright, afflict the best!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker addresses a powerful force that controls human emotions and afflicts both bad and good people.
- In plain terms
- A divine power tames the human heart and punishes the bad while troubling the best.
- What can you take from it?
- Powerful forces affect both the guilty and the innocent equally.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why does power afflict the best?
- Who or what tames the heart?
Another view
It personifies suffering as a sentient entity with malicious intent.
More from Thomas Gray
What sorrow was, thou bad'st her know, And from her own she learned to melt at others' woe.
Permalink to quote #2 The meanest floweret of the vale, The simplest note that swells the gale, The common sun, the air, the skies, To him are opening paradise.
Permalink to quote #3 O'er her warm cheek and rising bosom move The bloom of young Desire and purple light of Love.
Permalink to quote #4
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