16 Metaphors for muses

The Muse of Terence, and, consequently, of Menander, is an artless and unpainted beauty, of easy gaiety, whose features are rather delicate than striking, rather soft than strong, rather plain and modest than great and haughty, but always perfectly natural: Ce n'est pas un portrait, une image semblable: C'est un fils, un amant, un père véritable.

To conclude, Plutarch, in his comparison of these authors, says, that the muse of Aristophanes is an abandoned prostitute, and that of Menander a modest woman.

Nor is the Muse a stranger to their lives, but everywhere are stirring to and fro dances of maidens and shrill noise of pipes: and binding golden bay-leaves in their hair they make them merry cheer.

From the address To the Courteous Reader, it would seem that Henry Shirley did not seek for popularity: "his Muse," we are told, was "seldome seene abroad."

His muse at first is Iselin, the embodiment of adolescent longing, the dream of those "whom delight flies because they give her chase."

Tennyson's Muse was ever a wild and wilful creature, defiant of rules, and daringly insubordinate to arbitrary forms.

His pastoral muse was a hearty buxom lass, and kind withal, not overburdened with modesty, yet wholesome and cleanly, and if at times her laugh rings out where the subject passes the natural enjoyment of kind, it is even then careless and merry, and there is often a ground of real fun in the jest.

The Muse in council, being essays on poets and poetry.

The Muse of this romantic school was Fancy rather than Passion.

The Muse of History was the Spirit of Holiness.

Sir Walter's Muse is a Modern Antique.

His Muse is also a lady of quality.

But the Muses and the Graces are his hard mistresses; though he daily invocate them, though he sacrifice hecatombs, they still look asquint.

P. The Muses are young ladies, we expect to see them dressed; though not like some modern beauties with so much gauze and feather, that "the Lady herself is the least part of her."

Thus you see that tho' case be the nurse of poetry, the Muses are also companions to Mars, as may be exemplified in the characters of the Earl of Surry, Sir Philip Sidney, and Sir Fulk Greville.

Language is the sacred Fire in this Temple of Humanity, and the Muses are its especial and vestal Priestesses.

16 Metaphors for  muses