Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes and groves, And…
““Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes and groves, And ye that on the sands with printless foot Do chase the ebbing Neptune and do fly him When he comes back; you demi-puppets that By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make, Whereof the ewe not bites, and you whose pastime Is to make midnight mushrooms, that rejoice To hear the solemn curfew; by whose aid, Weak masters though ye be, I have bedimm’d The noontide sun, call’d forth the mutinous winds, And ‘twixt the green sea and the azured vault Set roaring war: to the dread rattling thunder Have I given fire and rifted Jove’s stout oak With his own bolt; the strong-based promontory Have I made shake and by the spurs pluck’d up The pine and cedar: graves at my command Have waked their sleepers, oped, and let ‘em forth By my so potent art. But this rough magic I here abjure, and, when I have required Some heavenly music, which even now I do, To work mine end upon their senses that This airy charm is for, I’ll break my staff, Bury it certain fathoms in the earth, And deeper than did ever plummet sound I’ll drown my book.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker claims mastery over natural forces, yet renounces this power, seeking humility and artistic restraint.
In simple terms: Power over nature is fleeting; humility is wiser.
Key Takeaway
Release control, embrace simplicity.
Themes
power
humility
artistry
Mood
dramatic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- leadership
- environmental policy
- personal growth
Key Concepts
mythology
human hubris
Questions to Reflect On
- What does true mastery mean to you?
- How can restraint foster creativity?
A Different Perspective
Renouncing power may limit positive influence.