"Better the Mind no Notions had retain'd, / But still a fair Unwritten Blank remain'd; / For now, who Truth from Falshood wou'd discern; / must first disrobe the Mind, and all Unlearn."
— Pomfret, John (1667-1702)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed and are to be sold by J. Nutt
Date
1700
Metaphor
"Better the Mind no Notions had retain'd, / But still a fair Unwritten Blank remain'd; / For now, who Truth from Falshood wou'd discern; / must first disrobe the Mind, and all Unlearn."
Metaphor in Context
We seldome use our Liberty aright,
Nor Judge of Things by Universal Light;
Our Prepossessions and Affections bind
The Soul in Chains, and Lord it o're the Mind;
And if Self-Interest be but in the Case,
Our unexamin'd Principles may Pass.
Good Heavens! That Man shou'd thus himself deceive,
To Learn on Credit, and on Trust believe;
Better the Mind no Notions had retain'd,
But still a fair Unwritten Blank remain'd;
For now, who Truth from Falshood wou'd discern;
must first disrobe the Mind, and all Unlearn:
Errors contracted in unmindful Youth
When once Remov'd, will smooth the Way to Truth;
To disposess the Child the Mortal Lives,
But Death approaches e're the Man Arrives.
(p. 8)
Nor Judge of Things by Universal Light;
Our Prepossessions and Affections bind
The Soul in Chains, and Lord it o're the Mind;
And if Self-Interest be but in the Case,
Our unexamin'd Principles may Pass.
Good Heavens! That Man shou'd thus himself deceive,
To Learn on Credit, and on Trust believe;
Better the Mind no Notions had retain'd,
But still a fair Unwritten Blank remain'd;
For now, who Truth from Falshood wou'd discern;
must first disrobe the Mind, and all Unlearn:
Errors contracted in unmindful Youth
When once Remov'd, will smooth the Way to Truth;
To disposess the Child the Mortal Lives,
But Death approaches e're the Man Arrives.
(p. 8)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
At least 8 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1700, 1720, 1726, 1735, 1746, 1758, 1773, 1779, 1794).
John Pomfret, Reason: A Poem (London: J. Nutt, 1700). <Link to EEBO><Link to Google Books>
Poem originally discovered searching in HDIS (Poetry): see Poems upon Several Occasions. By the Reverend Mr. John Pomfret. The Sixth Edition, Corrected. With some Account Of his Life and Writings. To which are added, His Remains (London: Printed for D. Brown, J. Walthoe, A. Bettesworth, and E. Taylor, and J. Hooke [etc.], 1724). <Link to 8th edition in Google Books>
John Pomfret, Reason: A Poem (London: J. Nutt, 1700). <Link to EEBO><Link to Google Books>
Poem originally discovered searching in HDIS (Poetry): see Poems upon Several Occasions. By the Reverend Mr. John Pomfret. The Sixth Edition, Corrected. With some Account Of his Life and Writings. To which are added, His Remains (London: Printed for D. Brown, J. Walthoe, A. Bettesworth, and E. Taylor, and J. Hooke [etc.], 1724). <Link to 8th edition in Google Books>
Theme
Blank Slate
Date of Entry
07/18/2011
Date of Review
07/18/2011
