"Nay, the Light of Reason, which we so much boast of, what is it but a Dark-Lanthorn, which just serves to keep us from running our Nose against a Post, perhaps; but is no more able to lead us out of the dark Mists of Error and Ignorance, in which we are lost, than an Ignis fatuus would be to conduct us out of this Wood?"
— Dodsley, Robert (1703-1764)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for the Author and sold by T. Cooper
Date
January 29, 1737
Metaphor
"Nay, the Light of Reason, which we so much boast of, what is it but a Dark-Lanthorn, which just serves to keep us from running our Nose against a Post, perhaps; but is no more able to lead us out of the dark Mists of Error and Ignorance, in which we are lost, than an Ignis fatuus would be to conduct us out of this Wood?"
Metaphor in Context
2nd COURTIER
Well, it's a terrible Thing to be lost in the Dark.
4th COURTIER
It is. And yet it's so common a Case, that one would not think it should be at all so. Why we are all of us lost in the Dark every Day of our Lives. Knaves keep us in the Dark by their Cunning, and Fools by their Ignorance. Divines lose us in dark Mysteries; Lawyers in dark Cases; and Statesmen in dark Intrigues: Nay, the Light of Reason, which we so much boast of, what is it but a Dark-Lanthorn, which just serves to keep us from running our Nose against a Post, perhaps; but is no more able to lead us out of the dark Mists of Error and Ignorance, in which we are lost, than an Ignis fatuus would be to conduct us out of this Wood?
(pp. 10-1)
Well, it's a terrible Thing to be lost in the Dark.
4th COURTIER
It is. And yet it's so common a Case, that one would not think it should be at all so. Why we are all of us lost in the Dark every Day of our Lives. Knaves keep us in the Dark by their Cunning, and Fools by their Ignorance. Divines lose us in dark Mysteries; Lawyers in dark Cases; and Statesmen in dark Intrigues: Nay, the Light of Reason, which we so much boast of, what is it but a Dark-Lanthorn, which just serves to keep us from running our Nose against a Post, perhaps; but is no more able to lead us out of the dark Mists of Error and Ignorance, in which we are lost, than an Ignis fatuus would be to conduct us out of this Wood?
(pp. 10-1)
Provenance
LION
Citation
First performed Jan 29, 1737. 11 entries in the ESTC (1737, 1738, 1747, 1750, 1753, 1775).
The King and the Miller of Mansfield. A Dramatick Tale. By R. Dodsley. (London: Printed for the Author and sold by T. Cooper, 1737). <Link to Hathi Trust>
The King and the Miller of Mansfield. A Dramatick Tale. By R. Dodsley. (London: Printed for the Author and sold by T. Cooper, 1737). <Link to Hathi Trust>
Date of Entry
08/19/2013
