Why not take it simply as the light of a fire-fly, hence a weak and intermittent light. Makes sense in the various contexts. Cf. Marvell's "The Mower to Glow-Worms" Bill Oram
>>> [log in to unmask] 10/31/01 02:07PM >>>
Does anyone know what the image of "glowe-worme lights" refers to? OED has
it referring figuratively to contemptible persons in the 17th century and
relates it to "glose-wormes" or "glass worms" a sixteenth century variant
which seems to be associated with changeability.
Fulke Greville uses the term in A Letter to an Honorable Lady, where it is
compared to false remedies and deceiving visions: "as the weak become
terrified with those glow-worm lights; out of which wise subjects often
fashion arts, to govern absolute Monarchs by" (170.3-5, Gouws, Prose Works
of Greville); he also uses it in Caelica 78: the thoughts of changeable
counsellors are "shadowes of Princes might; / Which glow worm like, by
shining, show 'tis night."
Could "glow worm lights" refer to glosses? Are glosses viewed with
suspicion by Tudor/Stuart writers?
Has anyone seen "glow-worms" elsewhere, and in what contexts?
It also seems to me that "wise subjects" in the passage from A Letter needs
to be taken ironically. Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks,
Joel Davis
Department of English
205 Morrill Hall
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
405-744-9474
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
|