"How Spirits, which for Sense and Motion serve, / Unguided find the perforated Nerve. / Thro' ev'ry dark Recess pursue their Flight, / Unconscious of the Road and void of Sight, / Yet certain of the End still guide their Motions right."
— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for S. Buckley and J. Tonson
Date
1712
Metaphor
"How Spirits, which for Sense and Motion serve, / Unguided find the perforated Nerve. / Thro' ev'ry dark Recess pursue their Flight, / Unconscious of the Road and void of Sight, / Yet certain of the End still guide their Motions right."
Metaphor in Context
She next essay'd the Embryo's Rise to trace
From an unfashion'd, rude, unchannell'd Mass;
And sung how Spirits waken'd in the Brain
Exert their Force, and genial Toil maintain;
Erect the beating Heart, the Channels frame,
Unfold entangled Limbs, and kindle vital Flame.
How the small Pipes are in Meanders laid,
And bounding Life is to and fro convey'd.
How Spirits, which for Sense and Motion serve,
Unguided find the perforated Nerve.
Thro' ev'ry dark Recess pursue their Flight,
Unconscious of the Road and void of Sight,
Yet certain of the End still guide their Motions right.
(VII, ll. 622-634, pp. 349-350)
From an unfashion'd, rude, unchannell'd Mass;
And sung how Spirits waken'd in the Brain
Exert their Force, and genial Toil maintain;
Erect the beating Heart, the Channels frame,
Unfold entangled Limbs, and kindle vital Flame.
How the small Pipes are in Meanders laid,
And bounding Life is to and fro convey'd.
How Spirits, which for Sense and Motion serve,
Unguided find the perforated Nerve.
Thro' ev'ry dark Recess pursue their Flight,
Unconscious of the Road and void of Sight,
Yet certain of the End still guide their Motions right.
(VII, ll. 622-634, pp. 349-350)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
At least 8 entries in ESTC (1712, 1715, 1718, 1736, 1797).
Text from Sir Richard Blackmore, Creation: A Philosophical Poem. Demonstrating the Existence and Providence of a God, 2nd ed. (London: S. Buckley and J. Tonson, 1712). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
Other Online Editions: first edition (also published in 1712) is available <Link to ECCO>. See also 3rd edition (1715) <Link to Google Books>.
Text from Sir Richard Blackmore, Creation: A Philosophical Poem. Demonstrating the Existence and Providence of a God, 2nd ed. (London: S. Buckley and J. Tonson, 1712). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
Other Online Editions: first edition (also published in 1712) is available <Link to ECCO>. See also 3rd edition (1715) <Link to Google Books>.
Date of Entry
08/07/2013
