"Some things do through our Judgement pass / As through a Multiplying Glass."
— Cowley, Abraham (1618-1667)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Date
1656
Metaphor
"Some things do through our Judgement pass / As through a Multiplying Glass."
Metaphor in Context
Tell me, O tell, what kind of thing is Wit,
Thou who Master art of it.
For the First matter loves Variety less;
A thousand different shapes it bears,
Comely in thousand shapes appears.
Yonder we saw it plain; and here 'tis now,
Like Spirits in a Place, we know not How.
London that vents of false Ware so much store,
In no Ware deceives us more.
For men led by the Colour, and the Shape,
Like Zeuxis' Birds fly to the painted Grape;
Some things do through our Judgement pass
As through a Multiplying Glass.
And sometimes, if the Object be too far,
We take a Falling Meteor for a Star.
(ll. 1-15)
Thou who Master art of it.
For the First matter loves Variety less;
A thousand different shapes it bears,
Comely in thousand shapes appears.
Yonder we saw it plain; and here 'tis now,
Like Spirits in a Place, we know not How.
London that vents of false Ware so much store,
In no Ware deceives us more.
For men led by the Colour, and the Shape,
Like Zeuxis' Birds fly to the painted Grape;
Some things do through our Judgement pass
As through a Multiplying Glass.
And sometimes, if the Object be too far,
We take a Falling Meteor for a Star.
(ll. 1-15)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Date of Entry
05/20/2011
