A EPISTLE I. WAKE, MY ST. JOHN ! leave all meaner things Let us (fince Life can little more fupply 5 Than just to look about us and to die) 10 The Exordium of this poem relates to the whole work, of which the Effay on Man was only the first book. The 6th, 7th, and 8th lines allude to the subjects of this Essay, viz. the general Order and Defign of Providence; the Constitution of the human Mind; the origin, ufe, and end of the Paffions and Affections, both felfish and focial; and the wrong pursuits of Power, Pleasure, and Happiness. The 10th, 11th, 12th, &c. have relation to the fubjects of the books intended to follow, viz. the Characters and Capacities of Men, and the Limits of Science, which once tranfgreffed, ignorance begins, and error follows. The 13th and 14th, to the Knowledge of Mankind, and the various Manners of the age. Laugh where we muft, be candid where we can; 15 But vindicate the ways of God to Man. I. Say firft, of God above, or Man below, What can we reason, but from what we know? Of Man, what fee we but his station here, 20 From which to reafon, or to which refer? What other planets circle other funs, 25 30 May tell why Heav'n has made us as we are. find, Why form'd fo weak, fo little, and fo blind? 35 VER. 21. Thro' worlds unnumber'd, etc.] Hunc cognofcimus folummodo per Proprietates fuas et Attributa, et per fapientif fimas et optimas rerum ftructuras et caufas finales. Newtoni Princ. Schol. gen. fub fin. 40 45 Afk of thy mother earth, why oaks are made 50 55 60 When the proud fteed fhall know whyMan reftrains His fiery course, or drives him o'er the plains; When the dull Ox, why now he breaks the clod, Is now a victim, and now Ægypt's God: VARIATIONS. In the former Editions 64. Now wears a garland an Ægyptian God. Then fhall Man's pride and dulnefs comprehend 65 Then say not Man's imperfect, Heav'n in fault; What matter, foon or late, or here or there? 70 75 f As who began a thousand years ago. III. Heav'n from all creatures hides the book of Fate, 80 All but the page prefcrib'd, their present state: VARIATIONS. After 68. the following lines in first Ed. If to be perfect in a certain fphere, What matters foon or late, or here or there? As who began ten thousand years ago. 85 Who fees with equal eye, as God of all, A hero perish, or a fparrow fall, Atoms or fyftems into ruin hurl'd, And now a bubble burst, and now a world. 90 Hope humbly then; with trembling pinions foar; Wait the great teacher Death; and God adore. What future bliss, he gives not thee to know, But gives that Hope to be thy bleffing now. Hope fprings eternal in the human breast: Man never Is, but always To be bleft: The foul, uneafy and confin'd from home, Refts and expatiates in a life to come. Lo, the 95 poor Indian whofe untutor'd mind Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind; 100 His foul, proud Science never taught to stray Far as the folar walk, or milky way; Yet fimple Nature to his hope has giv'n, Behind the cloud-topt-hill, an humbler heav'n; Some fafer world in depth of woods embrac'd, 105 Some happier island in the watry waste, VARIATIONS. After 88. in the MS. No great, no little; 'tis as much decreed In the first Folio and Quarto, What blifs above he gives not thee to know, But gives that Hope to be thy blifs below. |