This statement uses metaphor to highlight the slow and deliberate nature of pity.
Here's the breakdown:
* Pity: A feeling of sorrow and compassion for someone else's suffering.
* Speed: The rate at which something moves.
* "Who ever saw Pity make same speed as...": This is an implied comparison – Davies doesn't finish the sentence. The reader is meant to fill in the blank with something that moves quickly.
What Davies is trying to say:
Davies is suggesting that pity doesn't act swiftly like other emotions. It doesn't rush in to help immediately. Instead, it takes time to develop and truly understand the suffering of others.
Possible Interpretations:
* Pity is thoughtful: Pity requires careful consideration and reflection before action.
* Pity is deliberate: It's not a knee-jerk reaction, but a conscious choice.
* Pity is slow to act: It may be a slow process to understand and genuinely sympathize with someone's pain.
The Missing Comparison:
Davies leaves the comparison unfinished, letting the reader imagine what moves faster than pity. This adds to the poem's impact. Here are some possibilities:
* "Who ever saw Pity make same speed as anger?" Anger often flares up quickly and impulsively.
* "Who ever saw Pity make same speed as joy?" Joy can be a sudden and overwhelming feeling.
* "Who ever saw Pity make same speed as fear?" Fear is often a rapid response to perceived danger.
By leaving the comparison incomplete, Davies forces the reader to contemplate the nature of pity and its relationship to other human emotions.