"Regard thy Powers, O Man! nor heed thy Size: / In piercing Reason thy Advantage lies; / Reason that conquers all, and rules the Skies."
— Baker, Henry (1698-1774)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for D. Midwinter, A Bettesworth and C. Hitch, J. and J. Pemberton, R. Ware, C. Rivington, F. Clay, J. Batley and J. Wood, A. Ward, J. and P. Knapton, T. Longman, and R. Hett
Date
1737
Metaphor
"Regard thy Powers, O Man! nor heed thy Size: / In piercing Reason thy Advantage lies; / Reason that conquers all, and rules the Skies."
Metaphor in Context
Think not thy Power too small, too weak thy Mind,
Because it's to a little Body joyn'd:
For wondrous is it's Force:--how small a Mass
Of standard Gold exceeds vast Heaps of Brass!
How little is the Apple of the Eye!
And yet, at once, it takes in half the Sky:
How vast the Disproportion to the Sense!
The Organ small, the Object is immense.
So, from the narrow Limits of the Heart,
The active Soul does vig'rous Life impart
To all the Limbs: it's Sway the Members own,
And wide it's Empire spreads around it's Throne.
Regard thy Powers, O Man! nor heed thy Size:
In piercing Reason thy Advantage lies;
Reason that conquers all, and rules the Skies. (II, p. 293, 295)
Because it's to a little Body joyn'd:
For wondrous is it's Force:--how small a Mass
Of standard Gold exceeds vast Heaps of Brass!
How little is the Apple of the Eye!
And yet, at once, it takes in half the Sky:
How vast the Disproportion to the Sense!
The Organ small, the Object is immense.
So, from the narrow Limits of the Heart,
The active Soul does vig'rous Life impart
To all the Limbs: it's Sway the Members own,
And wide it's Empire spreads around it's Throne.
Regard thy Powers, O Man! nor heed thy Size:
In piercing Reason thy Advantage lies;
Reason that conquers all, and rules the Skies. (II, p. 293, 295)
Provenance
Searching "rule" and "reason" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
2 entries in ESTC (1737).
Medulla Poetarum Romanorum: or, the Most Beautiful and Instructive Passages of the Roman Poets. Being a Collection, (Disposed Under Proper Heads,) of Such Descriptions, Allusions, Comparisons, Characters, and Sentiments, As May Best Serve to Shew the Religion, Learning, Politicks, Arts, Customs, Opinions, Manners, and Circumstances of the Antients. With Translations of the Same in English Verse. By Mr. Henry Baker. 2 vols. (London: Printed for D. Midwinter, A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch, J. and J. Pemberton, R. Ware, C. Rivington, F. Clay, J. Batley and J. Wood, A. Ward, J. and P. Knapton, T. Longman, and R. Hett, 1737). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books, Vol. I and Vol. II>
Medulla Poetarum Romanorum: or, the Most Beautiful and Instructive Passages of the Roman Poets. Being a Collection, (Disposed Under Proper Heads,) of Such Descriptions, Allusions, Comparisons, Characters, and Sentiments, As May Best Serve to Shew the Religion, Learning, Politicks, Arts, Customs, Opinions, Manners, and Circumstances of the Antients. With Translations of the Same in English Verse. By Mr. Henry Baker. 2 vols. (London: Printed for D. Midwinter, A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch, J. and J. Pemberton, R. Ware, C. Rivington, F. Clay, J. Batley and J. Wood, A. Ward, J. and P. Knapton, T. Longman, and R. Hett, 1737). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books, Vol. I and Vol. II>
Date of Entry
06/14/2004
Date of Review
01/11/2012
