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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ON THE EPICUREAN, STOIC, AND CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY by JOHN BYROM

Poet Analysis

First Line: THREE DIFF'RENT SCHEMES PHILOSOPHERS ASSIGN
Last Line: HE ONLY REASONS WHO BELIEVES A GOD.
Subject(s): PHILOSOPHY & PHILOSOPHERS;

THREE diff'rent schemes philosophers assign;
A Chance, a Fate, a Providence Divine:
Which to embrace of these three sev'ral views,
Methinks, it is not difficult to choose.

For first, what wisdom, or what sense, to cry,
@3Things happen as they do—we know not why?@1
Or how are we advanc'd one jot, to know,
@3When once things are—that they must needs be so?@1

To see such order, and yet own no laws;
Feel such effects, and yet confess no cause;
What can be more extravagant and odd?
He only reasons who believes a God.



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