"I have often been concerned at the ill success of my worthy friend the CANTABRIGIAN PHILOSOPHER; who happening to jar the string in the harmony of human understanding, among those, who were below his own height; they, instead of subscribing to his doctrine, were for tying him fast, and sending him to Bedlam."
— Richard Russel and John Martyn
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Date
April 30, 1730
Metaphor
"I have often been concerned at the ill success of my worthy friend the CANTABRIGIAN PHILOSOPHER; who happening to jar the string in the harmony of human understanding, among those, who were below his own height; they, instead of subscribing to his doctrine, were for tying him fast, and sending him to Bedlam."
Metaphor in Context
I have often been concerned at the ill success of my worthy friend the CANTABRIGIAN PHILOSOPHER; who happening to jar the string in the harmony of human understanding, among those, who were below his own height; they, instead of subscribing to his doctrine, were for tying him fast, and sending him to Bedlam. Had he dextrously screwed up this string to its right key among those of the same pitch, and stricken gently upon it, they, by a secret necessary sympathy, would have stricken exactly at the same time; and the Greenian philosophy had then been as much admired and applauded as ever the Cartesian was. But this had deprived you of an opportunity of shewing your generosity to a perfon undeservedly fallen under the obloquy of the world, for writing above their capacity, and of taking his sublime Works into your protection.
(81-2).
(81-2).
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
Martyn, Richard Russel and John. Memoirs of the Society of Grub Street. London: J. WIlford, 1737. <Link to Google Books>
Date of Entry
12/13/2010
