'My very Brains (as Manichæus's Skin) are stuff'd with Chaff."

— Dunton, John (1659-1732)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Richard Newcome
Date
1691
Metaphor
'My very Brains (as Manichæus's Skin) are stuff'd with Chaff."
Metaphor in Context
'My very Brains (as Manichæus's Skin) are stuff'd with Chaff. I am ever sick of a Diabete; nor do I read but weed Authors, picking up cheap, and refuse Notes, and then with Domitian, retire into my Study to catch Flies.

'Were there any Metempsychosis, my Soul would want a Lodging, no single Beast could fit me; for I shou'd out of pure love to novelty change more Lodgings than ever Pythagoras's Soul did. Twice every day a thousand Fancies and Fegaries crowd into my Noddle so thick as if my Brain kept open-house for all the Maggots in nature.
(III, pp. 29-30)
Provenance
C-H Lion
Citation
John Dunton, A Voyage Round the World: or, a Pocket-Library, Divided into several Volumes. The First of which contains the Rare Adventures of Don Kainophilus, From his Cradle to his 15th. Year. The like Discoveries in such a Method never made by any Rambler before. The whole Work intermixt with Essays, Historical, Moral and Divine; and all other kinds of Learning. Done into English by a Lover of Travels. Recommended by the Wits of both Universities. 3 vols. (London: Printed for Richard Newcome, 1691). <Link to EEBO-TCP>
Date of Entry
06/19/2013

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.