"Fancy not Reason rules our wayward Mind"
— Pack, Richardson (1682-1742)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for E. Curll
Date
1718, 1719
Metaphor
"Fancy not Reason rules our wayward Mind"
Metaphor in Context
Fancy not Reason rules our wayward Mind.
We seek not Virtue in the Man we Love,
But such affect, who Like what we Approve.
With forc'd Complacency, and venal Smiles,
The Harlot thus, and Parasite Beguiles.
The dear Dissemblers we with Pride believe,
Nor think such civil Creatures can Deceive.
When young, Unskilful of the World's false Arts,
Careless w'unlock to ev'ry Guest our Hearts;
Till better Taught, we by Experience find,
Smooth Looks are Artifice, and Vows are Wind.
Then Craftier grown (as Cullies turn to Rooks)
We try, perhaps, the Cheat on other Folks;
Revenge the Suff'rings of our heedless Youth;
And to our Int'rest sacrifice our Truth.
We seek not Virtue in the Man we Love,
But such affect, who Like what we Approve.
With forc'd Complacency, and venal Smiles,
The Harlot thus, and Parasite Beguiles.
The dear Dissemblers we with Pride believe,
Nor think such civil Creatures can Deceive.
When young, Unskilful of the World's false Arts,
Careless w'unlock to ev'ry Guest our Hearts;
Till better Taught, we by Experience find,
Smooth Looks are Artifice, and Vows are Wind.
Then Craftier grown (as Cullies turn to Rooks)
We try, perhaps, the Cheat on other Folks;
Revenge the Suff'rings of our heedless Youth;
And to our Int'rest sacrifice our Truth.
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
At least 4 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1719, 1721, 1726).
See Miscellanies in Verse and Prose. (London: Printed for E. Curll in Fleetstreet, [1718] [1719]). <Link to ESTC>
See Miscellanies in Verse and Prose. (London: Printed for E. Curll in Fleetstreet, [1718] [1719]). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
06/21/2004
