"If then the Medium's false [i.e., the senses], thrô which Arts go, / How can we hope the genuine Truth to know? / The Water pure and clear i'th' Fountain flows; / But with ill Mixtures doth its Nature lose; / And tasts of every Soil, thrô which it goes."
— Heyrick, Thomas (bap. 1649. d. 1694)
Place of Publication
Cambridge
Publisher
Printed by John Hayes for the Author, And are to be sold by Francis Hicks ... And by Thomas Basset ... and Samuel Heyrick
Date
1691
Metaphor
"If then the Medium's false [i.e., the senses], thrô which Arts go, / How can we hope the genuine Truth to know? / The Water pure and clear i'th' Fountain flows; / But with ill Mixtures doth its Nature lose; / And tasts of every Soil, thrô which it goes."
Metaphor in Context
Our Knowledge by the Sence's help we find,
'Tis those deceitfull Guides inform our Mind.
If then the Medium's false, thrô which Arts go,
How can we hope the genuine Truth to know?
The Water pure and clear i'th' Fountain flows;
But with ill Mixtures doth its Nature lose;
And tasts of every Soil, thrô which it goes.
We from our Sences upon trust Receive,
And Them, althô they oft delude, believe.
But Truth and Skill must Disputable grow;
If no account we of our Sences know.
If hidden Secrets in their Nature lie,
That all our diligent Enquiries flie,
If we their Nature strive to search in vain,
What then's the Learning, that by them we gain?
(ll. 53-67)
'Tis those deceitfull Guides inform our Mind.
If then the Medium's false, thrô which Arts go,
How can we hope the genuine Truth to know?
The Water pure and clear i'th' Fountain flows;
But with ill Mixtures doth its Nature lose;
And tasts of every Soil, thrô which it goes.
We from our Sences upon trust Receive,
And Them, althô they oft delude, believe.
But Truth and Skill must Disputable grow;
If no account we of our Sences know.
If hidden Secrets in their Nature lie,
That all our diligent Enquiries flie,
If we their Nature strive to search in vain,
What then's the Learning, that by them we gain?
(ll. 53-67)
Categories
Provenance
C-H Lion
Date of Entry
06/19/2013
