"For tho' right Reason should her Beams display, / And dart new Lustre on our clouded Way; / Unless Philosophy, with antient Strength, / Support her Empire to Life's utmost Length; / Unless, in Passion's Spite, we dare be free, / (What Few have been, and Few will ever be) / That pristine Turn, that System, we shall find / The Stamp, the Spring, the Measure of the Mind!"

— Bancks, John (1709-1751)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
James Hodges
Date
1738, 1739
Metaphor
"For tho' right Reason should her Beams display, / And dart new Lustre on our clouded Way; / Unless Philosophy, with antient Strength, / Support her Empire to Life's utmost Length; / Unless, in Passion's Spite, we dare be free, / (What Few have been, and Few will ever be) / That pristine Turn, that System, we shall find / The Stamp, the Spring, the Measure of the Mind!"
Metaphor in Context
That Master-Maxim, wondrous is the Force
With which thro' Life it urges on our Course!
For tho' right Reason should her Beams display,
And dart new Lustre on our clouded Way;
Unless Philosophy, with antient Strength,
Support her Empire to Life's utmost Length;
Unless, in Passion's Spite, we dare be free,
(What Few have been, and Few will ever be)
That pristine Turn, that System, we shall find
The Stamp, the Spring, the Measure of the Mind!

(ll. 21-30, pp. 306-7)
Provenance
Reading in Google Books
Citation
At least 2 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1738, 1739, 1748, 1752).

See Miscellaneous Works, in Verse and Prose, of John Bancks. Adorned With Sculptures and Illustrated With Notes. (London: printed by T. Aris, in Red-Lyon-Court, Fleet-Street, for the author; and sold by C. Corbett, at Addison’s-Head, over-against St. Dunstan’s Church, in Fleet-Street; J. Brindley, in New-Bond-Street; Mess. Gilliver and Clarke, in Westminster-Hall; J. James, under the Royal Exchange; Mess. Ward and Chandler, without Temple-Bar; and at their Shops in Coney-Street, York, and at Scarborough Spaw, 1738). <Link to ESTC>

See also Miscellaneous Works in Verse and Prose of Mr. John Bancks, 2nd ed., vol. I (London: James Hodges, 1739). <Link to Google Books>
Date of Entry
04/10/2012

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.