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Literary
July 20, 1786
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
An allegorical fable depicts a traveler escaping a unicorn into a pit, clinging to a tree amid moles gnawing roots, a fire-spitting dragon below, hissing serpents, yet distracted by dripping honey. Explanation interprets symbols: unicorn as death, pit as world, tree as life, moles as time, serpents as elements, dragon as devil, honey as worldly pleasures blinding to sin's perils.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
An ancient FABLE, and its explanation.
TRAVELLER fleeing from the fierceness and rage of an Unicorn, falls into a pit, and rolling down, lays hold on the bough of a tree; thinking himself now secure from danger, he looks about, and beholds two Moles corroding the roots of the tree he holds by, and underneath him a Dragon spitting fire, and threatening to devour him; on both sides of him four Serpents hissing, and in the midst of all his danger, some honey trickling down from the tree; with the sweetness of which, and agreeableness to his palate, he is so taken and ravished, that he forgets his fears, and rejoices, though surrounded with so many implacable enemies.
EXPLANATION.
The Unicorn is death: the pit is the world: the freeman's life; the two Moles, day and night: the four Serpents, the four elements man is composed of; the Dragon is the devil, the Honey, voluptuousness, or the sweetness and pleasures of the world, which allure men from virtue, and make them insensible of the danger of sin.
TRAVELLER fleeing from the fierceness and rage of an Unicorn, falls into a pit, and rolling down, lays hold on the bough of a tree; thinking himself now secure from danger, he looks about, and beholds two Moles corroding the roots of the tree he holds by, and underneath him a Dragon spitting fire, and threatening to devour him; on both sides of him four Serpents hissing, and in the midst of all his danger, some honey trickling down from the tree; with the sweetness of which, and agreeableness to his palate, he is so taken and ravished, that he forgets his fears, and rejoices, though surrounded with so many implacable enemies.
EXPLANATION.
The Unicorn is death: the pit is the world: the freeman's life; the two Moles, day and night: the four Serpents, the four elements man is composed of; the Dragon is the devil, the Honey, voluptuousness, or the sweetness and pleasures of the world, which allure men from virtue, and make them insensible of the danger of sin.
What sub-type of article is it?
Fable
Allegory
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Death Mortality
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Unicorn Fable
Death Symbolism
Worldly Pleasures
Sin Danger
Moral Allegory
Literary Details
Title
An Ancient Fable, And Its Explanation.
Form / Style
Symbolic Narrative With Moral Explanation
Key Lines
Traveller Fleeing From The Fierceness And Rage Of An Unicorn, Falls Into A Pit, And Rolling Down, Lays Hold On The Bough Of A Tree; Thinking Himself Now Secure From Danger, He Looks About, And Beholds Two Moles Corroding The Roots Of The Tree He Holds By, And Underneath Him A Dragon Spitting Fire, And Threatening To Devour Him; On Both Sides Of Him Four Serpents Hissing, And In The Midst Of All His Danger, Some Honey Trickling Down From The Tree; With The Sweetness Of Which, And Agreeableness To His Palate, He Is So Taken And Ravished, That He Forgets His Fears, And Rejoices, Though Surrounded With So Many Implacable Enemies.
The Unicorn Is Death: The Pit Is The World: The Freeman's Life; The Two Moles, Day And Night: The Four Serpents, The Four Elements Man Is Composed Of; The Dragon Is The Devil, The Honey, Voluptuousness, Or The Sweetness And Pleasures Of The World, Which Allure Men From Virtue, And Make Them Insensible Of The Danger Of Sin.