"Powers that should spread in Reason's orient ray, / How are they darken'd, and debarr'd the day!"
— Langhorne, John (1735-1779)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt
Date
1763, 1765; 1766
Metaphor
"Powers that should spread in Reason's orient ray, / How are they darken'd, and debarr'd the day!"
Metaphor in Context
'Twas thus St. Robert, in his lonely wood,
Forsook each social duty---to be good.
Thus Hobbes on one dear system fix'd his eyes,
And prov'd his nature wretched---to be wise.
Each zealot thus, elate with ghostly pride,
Adores his God, and hates the world beside.
Tho' form'd with powers to grasp this various ball,
Gods! to what meanness may the spirit fall?
Powers that should spread in Reason's orient ray,
How are they darken'd, and debarr'd the day!
(pp. 90-91, ll. 39-48)
Forsook each social duty---to be good.
Thus Hobbes on one dear system fix'd his eyes,
And prov'd his nature wretched---to be wise.
Each zealot thus, elate with ghostly pride,
Adores his God, and hates the world beside.
Tho' form'd with powers to grasp this various ball,
Gods! to what meanness may the spirit fall?
Powers that should spread in Reason's orient ray,
How are they darken'd, and debarr'd the day!
(pp. 90-91, ll. 39-48)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
Printed in Parts: at least 4 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1763, 1765, 1766, 1798).
See The Enlargement of the Mind. Epistle I. to General Craufurd. Written at Belvidere, 1763. by J. Langhorne. (London: Printed for T. Becket and P.A. De Hondt, in the Strand, 1763). <Link to ECCO>
Also The Enlargement of the Mind. Epistle II. To William Langhorne, M.A. by J. Langhorne. (London: Printed for T. Becket and P.A. De Hondt, in the Strand, 1765). <Link to ECCO>
Combined in John Langhorne, The Poetical Works of John Langhorne, 2 vols. (London: Printed for T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, 1766). <Link to vol. I in Google Books>
Text from John Langhorne, The Poetical Works (London: Printed for J. Mawman [by] T. Gillet, 1804).
See The Enlargement of the Mind. Epistle I. to General Craufurd. Written at Belvidere, 1763. by J. Langhorne. (London: Printed for T. Becket and P.A. De Hondt, in the Strand, 1763). <Link to ECCO>
Also The Enlargement of the Mind. Epistle II. To William Langhorne, M.A. by J. Langhorne. (London: Printed for T. Becket and P.A. De Hondt, in the Strand, 1765). <Link to ECCO>
Combined in John Langhorne, The Poetical Works of John Langhorne, 2 vols. (London: Printed for T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, 1766). <Link to vol. I in Google Books>
Text from John Langhorne, The Poetical Works (London: Printed for J. Mawman [by] T. Gillet, 1804).
Date of Entry
08/21/2014
