The purple island, or, The isle of man : an allegorical poem / By Phineas Fletcher, esteemed the Spenser of his age. To which is added Christ's victory and triumph, a poem, in four parts. By Giles Fletcher. Both written in the last century.

  • Fletcher, Phineas, 1582-1650.
Date:
1783
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The purple island, or, The isle of man : an allegorical poem / By Phineas Fletcher, esteemed the Spenser of his age. To which is added Christ's victory and triumph, a poem, in four parts. By Giles Fletcher. Both written in the last century. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    which more is contained than what the literal Mean- ing conveys. Thus the Roman Commonwealth is addreffed by Horace under the PiBurc of a Ship. The Fables of Efop, the Iliad and Odyffey of Homer, and the iEneid of Virgil, are all reckoned of this Kind. The Ufe of it is of very early Date, and both Plato and Socrates, who are confidered as the wifeft amongft the Heathens, recommended it. But what fully evinces its Excellence and Utility is the frequent Ufe made of it in the Scriptures, and by our bleffed Lord himfelf. We have feveral Examples of allegorical Writing in the Englilh Language both in Profe and Verfe: amongft the latter, the following Piece has been greatly admired by thofe into whole Hands it has fallen ; and which many wiftied to fee reprinted, being exceeding fcarce, and feldom to be purchafed at any Rate. As the Stanza ufed by the Author (nearly as in Spenser's Fairy Queen) is very different from the Meafure in which moft modern Poetry is written, it may feem awkward at firft to fome Perfons. This the Editor found to be the Cafe with fome of his Acquaintance; but who, after reading a few Pages, acknowledged it became both familiar and pleafing. It is requefted of the Reader, to perufe all the Pieces prefixed to the Poem ; and pay particular Attention to the Notes as they occur in the II. III. IV. and V. Cantos, which contain a full Defcription of that wonderful Structure the human Body. As this Poem was written near Two Hundred Years ago,