When the comparison
is an involved one, the greater force of the metaphor, consequent
on its greater brevity, becomes much more conspicuous. If, drawing
an analogy between mental and physical phenomena, we say, "As, in
passing through the crystal, beams of white light are decomposed
into the colours of the rainbow; so, in traversing the soul of the
poet, the colourless rays of truth are transformed into brightly
tinted poetry"; it is clear that in receiving the double set of
words expressing the two halves of the comparison, and in carrying
the one half to the other, considerable attention is absorbed.
Most of this is saved, however, by putting the comparison in a
metaphorical form, thus: "The white light of truth, in traversing
the many sided transparent soul of. the poet, is refracted into
iris-hued poetry."
42. How much is conveyed in a few words by the help of
the Metaphor, and how vivid the effect consequently produced, may
be abundantly exemplified. From 'A Life Drama' may be quoted the
phrase--
"I spear'd him with a jest,"
as a fine instance among the many which that poem contains.
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