"Unstudy'd Knowledge only was design'd, / The rich Attire of Adam's glorious Mind."
— Pomfret, John (1667-1702)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for R. Basset ... and Sold by Fr. Hicks [etc.]
Date
1699
Metaphor
"Unstudy'd Knowledge only was design'd, / The rich Attire of Adam's glorious Mind."
Metaphor in Context
To what perfection must that Schollar reach
Whom God's Immediate Discipline did teach?
Man at the first in perfect state appears;
Mature in Knowledge and mature in Years.
From him We first Philosophy may trace:
Parent of Wisdom, as of Human Race.
O the Vast Riches of this New-born Mind!
To furnish this, Heav'n prov'd excessive kind
Lavish'd its Treasures, and left none behind.
Since then, no Soul so brightly clad appears:
Such Seraph's Robes, nor Heav'nly Garments wears.
Unstudy'd Knowledge only was design'd,
The rich Attire of Adam's glorious Mind.
Thro' Nature's maze he knowledge could persue;
And no dark Object could contract his View.
The Prospect lengthen'd, as the Mind advanc'd,
While all before in beauteous Order danc'd.
Creation stoop'd, and ev'ry Creature came,
Display'd its Nature, and receiv'd a Name.
(p. 3)
Whom God's Immediate Discipline did teach?
Man at the first in perfect state appears;
Mature in Knowledge and mature in Years.
From him We first Philosophy may trace:
Parent of Wisdom, as of Human Race.
O the Vast Riches of this New-born Mind!
To furnish this, Heav'n prov'd excessive kind
Lavish'd its Treasures, and left none behind.
Since then, no Soul so brightly clad appears:
Such Seraph's Robes, nor Heav'nly Garments wears.
Unstudy'd Knowledge only was design'd,
The rich Attire of Adam's glorious Mind.
Thro' Nature's maze he knowledge could persue;
And no dark Object could contract his View.
The Prospect lengthen'd, as the Mind advanc'd,
While all before in beauteous Order danc'd.
Creation stoop'd, and ev'ry Creature came,
Display'd its Nature, and receiv'd a Name.
(p. 3)
Categories
Provenance
Reading in EEBO
Citation
John Pomfret, The Sceptical Muse: or, A Paradox on Humane Understanding. A Poem (London: Printed for R. Basset and Sold by Fr. Hicks, 1699). <Link to EEBO>
Theme
Dress of Thought
Date of Entry
07/18/2011
