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Fail to understand "and like the lion bold, which whilom so magnanimously the lamb did hold"

 
 
Reply Fri 9 Sep, 2011 12:24 am
The lion bold the bold lion?

Context:

That all this might not be too onerous on the purses of his rustic patrons, who are apt to consider the costs of schooling a grievous burden, and schoolmasters as mere drones, he had various ways of rendering himself both useful and agreeable. He assisted the farmers occasionally in the lighter labors of their farms; helped to make hay; mended the fences; took the horses to water; drove the cows from pasture; and cut wood for the winter fire. He laid aside, too, all the dominant dignity and absolute sway with which he lorded it in his little empire, the school, and became wonderfully gentle and ingratiating. He found favor in the eyes of the mothers, by petting the children, particularly the youngest; and like the lion bold, which whilom so magnanimously the lamb did hold, he would sit with a child on one knee, and rock a cradle with his foot for whole hours together. In addition to his other vocations, he was the singing-master of the neighborhood, and picked up many bright shillings by instructing the young folks in psalmody. It was a matter of no little vanity to him, on Sundays, to take his station in front of the church gallery, with a band of chosen singers; where, in his own mind, he completely carried away the palm from the parson. Certain it is, his voice resounded far above all the rest of the congregation; and there are peculiar quavers still to be heard in that church, and which may even be heard half a mile off, quite to the opposite side of the mill-pond, on a still Sunday morning, which are said to be legitimately descended from the nose of Ichabod Crane. Thus, by divers little make-shifts in that ingenious way which is commonly denominated "by hook and by crook," the worthy pedagogue got on tolerably enough, and was thought, by all who understood nothing of the labor of headwork, to have a wonderfully easy life of it.

More:
http://www.castleofspirits.com/sleepyh1.html

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Type: Question • Score: 4 • Views: 3,451 • Replies: 8
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Setanta
 
  1  
Reply Fri 9 Sep, 2011 02:39 am
"Like the bold lion, which in former times (whilom) magnimously held the lamb." This refers to a literary figure which has been popular literally for centuries, but which is a confused reading of a text from the bible. Isaiah, Chapter 11, Verse 6, in the King James version, reads:

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

This is a line from obscurantist prophecy, and for reasons i don't know, has been remembered in English as a literary figure: "The lion shall lay down with the lamb." Irving has just tarted up that silly old figure, and is using a version of English which was becoming outdated even in the era in which he wrote.
oristarA
 
  1  
Reply Fri 9 Sep, 2011 03:27 am
@Setanta,
I've once seen the picture of Christian World Commonwealth in a rustic church in China.

Thanks.
Ceili
 
  1  
Reply Fri 9 Sep, 2011 03:45 am
@oristarA,
What do you mean by "christian world commonwealth"? I've never heard this term before?
oristarA
 
  1  
Reply Fri 9 Sep, 2011 06:28 am
@Ceili,
Ceili wrote:

What do you mean by "christian world commonwealth"? I've never heard this term before?


Have you heard of Christian Communism?

Ceili
 
  1  
Reply Fri 9 Sep, 2011 08:15 am
@oristarA,
Umm, no.
0 Replies
 
izzythepush
 
  1  
Reply Fri 9 Sep, 2011 08:32 am
@oristarA,
Isn't that the type of church sactioned by the communist state in China?
0 Replies
 
oristarA
 
  1  
Reply Fri 9 Sep, 2011 08:51 am

Quote:
Christian communism is a form of religious communism based on Christianity. It is a theological and political theory based upon the view that the teachings of Jesus Christ compel Christians to support communism as the ideal social system. Although there is no universal agreement on the exact date when Christian communism was founded, many Christian communists assert that evidence from the Bible suggests that the first Christians, including the Apostles, created their own small communist society in the years following Jesus' death and resurrection. As such, many advocates of Christian communism argue that it was taught by Jesus and practiced by the Apostles themselves.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_communism
0 Replies
 
Setanta
 
  1  
Reply Fri 9 Sep, 2011 08:53 am
You fool all of the people some of the time, and you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't beat communism for the looniest delusions going.
0 Replies
 
 

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