I. 1.K EPISTLE II. Now then thyfelf, prefume not to God to The proper ftudy of Mankind is Man. 5 10 15 VER. 2. The proper fudy, etc.] The poet having fhewn, in the first epistle, that the ways of God are too high for our comprehenfion, rightly draws this conclufion and methodically makes it the subject of his Introduction to the fecond, which treats of the Nature of Man. VER. 2. Ed. ift. VARIATIONS. The only fcience of Mankind is Man. Self Love still stronger, as it's Object's nigh, Reason's at distance, and in prospect lie; That sees immediate Good by present Sense, Reason the future, and the Consequence... Efs on Man Ep II Sole judge of Truth, in endlefs Error hurl'd: Go, wond'rous creature! mount where Science guides, Go, measure earth, weigh air, and ftate the tides; Inftruct the planets in what orbs to run, Correct old Time, and regulate the Sun; 19 VER. 22. Correct old Time,] This alludes to Sir Ifaac New VARIATIONS. After 18. in the MS. For more perfection than this ftate can bear Go, reafoning Thing! affume the Doctor's chair, Fix moral fitness, and to God give rule, VER. 21. Ed. 4th and 5th. Show by what rules the wand'ring planets ftray, Correct old Time, and teach the Sun his Way. VOL. III. Ꭰ Go, foar with Plato to th' empyreal sphere, 25 30 Superior beings, when of late they faw A mortal Man unfold all Nature's law, Admir'd fuch wisdom in an earthly shape, And fhew'd a NEWTON as we fhew an Ape. Could he, whofe rules the rapid Comet bind, 35 Defcribe or fix one movement of his Mind? Who faw its fires here rife, and there descend, Explain his own beginning, or his end? ton's Grecian Chronology, which he reformed on those two fublime conceptions, the difference between the reigns of kings, and the generations of men; and the pofition of the colures of the equinoxes and folftices at the time of the Argonautic expedition. VER. 37. Who faw its fires bere rise, etc.] Sir Ifaac Newton, in calculating the velocity of a Comet's motion, and the courfe Could he, who taught each Planet where to roll, Describe or fix one movement of the Soul? Who mark'd their points to rife or to defcend, |