"THE Pearl has this Prerogative above all other Jewels, that whereas they require form and lustre from Art, the Pearl only is perfected by Nature. Its colour, roundness, smoothness and bigness (in which consists its whole beauty) are all fram'd in its Mothers womb; but Man is a Jewel of another Nature; like the Diamond though he brings his perfection from the Bed, nevertheless 'tis rough and unpolish'd: much pains and Art must be us'd for the fashioning; and the more great and excellent the Stone, the more labour and diligence is requir'd for the polishing, and indeed maugre all the Art and care of the Workman, some Diamonds can never have their flaws conceal'd or mended by the help of any foil whatever."
— Nourse, Timothy (c.1636–1699)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Jacob Tonson
Date
1686, 1689, 1697
Metaphor
"THE Pearl has this Prerogative above all other Jewels, that whereas they require form and lustre from Art, the Pearl only is perfected by Nature. Its colour, roundness, smoothness and bigness (in which consists its whole beauty) are all fram'd in its Mothers womb; but Man is a Jewel of another Nature; like the Diamond though he brings his perfection from the Bed, nevertheless 'tis rough and unpolish'd: much pains and Art must be us'd for the fashioning; and the more great and excellent the Stone, the more labour and diligence is requir'd for the polishing, and indeed maugre all the Art and care of the Workman, some Diamonds can never have their flaws conceal'd or mended by the help of any foil whatever."
Metaphor in Context
THE Pearl has this Prerogative above all other Jewels, that whereas they require form and lustre from Art, the Pearl only is perfected by Nature. Its colour, roundness, smoothness and bigness (in which consists its whole beauty) are all fram'd in its Mothers womb; but Man is a Jewel of another Nature; like the Diamond though he brings his perfection from the Bed, nevertheless 'tis rough and unpolish'd: much pains and Art must be us'd for the fashioning; and the more great and excellent the Stone, the more labour and diligence is requir'd for the polishing, and indeed maugre all the Art and care of the Workman, some Diamonds can never have their flaws conceal'd or mended by the help of any foil whatever.
(p. 12)
(p. 12)
Categories
Provenance
Reading in EEBO-TCP
Citation
3 editions in ODNB, 2 found in ESTC (1686, 1689, 1697).
See Timothy Nourse, A Discourse Upon the Nature and Faculties of Man in Several Essayes With Some Considerations of Humane Life (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson at the Judge’s Head in Chancery-Lane, near Fleet-street, 1686). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO-TCP>
See Timothy Nourse, A Discourse Upon the Nature and Faculties of Man in Several Essayes With Some Considerations of Humane Life (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson at the Judge’s Head in Chancery-Lane, near Fleet-street, 1686). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO-TCP>
Date of Entry
03/11/2016
