Now stir the fire, and close the shutters fast, Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round, And, while the bubbling and loud hissing urn Throws up a steamy column and the cups That cheer but not inebriate, wait on each, So let us welcome peaceful ev'ning in.

William Cowper
About This Quote

“Now stir the fire, and close the shutters fast,” is a line from a famous poem by William Shakespeare. It’s a metaphor for going to bed so you can get enough rest before the next day begins. The line was written in a time when many people couldn’t afford to have their own fireplaces, so they would have to rely on an open fireplace. If someone was at home during this time of day, they needed to have their shutters closed so they could keep warm.

Once the shutters were closed, then there would be no more heat from the fire. Guests would want to go inside and enjoy a warm fire wouldn’t they? In a similar way, people who couldn’t afford their own cups would only be able to drink from those that were brought to them by servants.

Source: The Complete Poetical Works Of William Cowper

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