"But Man would yet look wondrous wise. / And equal Chains of Thought devise."
— Fenton, Elijah (1683-1730)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Bernard Lintot [etc.]
Date
1717
Metaphor
"But Man would yet look wondrous wise. / And equal Chains of Thought devise."
Metaphor in Context
The Spark of pure Aetherial Light,
That actuates this fleeting Frame,
Darts thro' the Cloud of Flesh a sickly Flame,
And seems a Glow-Worm in a Winter-Night.
But Man would yet look wondrous wise.
And equal Chains of Thought devise;
Intends his Mind on mighty Schemes,
Refutes, defines, confirms, declaims;
And Diagrams he draws t' explain
The learn'd Chimera's of his Brain;
And with imaginary Wisdom proud,
Thinks on the Goddess while he clips the Cloud.
That actuates this fleeting Frame,
Darts thro' the Cloud of Flesh a sickly Flame,
And seems a Glow-Worm in a Winter-Night.
But Man would yet look wondrous wise.
And equal Chains of Thought devise;
Intends his Mind on mighty Schemes,
Refutes, defines, confirms, declaims;
And Diagrams he draws t' explain
The learn'd Chimera's of his Brain;
And with imaginary Wisdom proud,
Thinks on the Goddess while he clips the Cloud.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "mind" and "chain" in HDIS (Poetry)
Date of Entry
07/14/2011
