STRONG passions draw, like horses that are strong, The body coach of flesh and blood along; While subtle Reason, with each rein in hand, Sits on the box, and has them at command; Rais'd up aloft to see and to be seen, Judges the track, and guides the gay machine. But was it made for nothing else, beside Passions to draw and Reason to be guide? Was so much art employ'd to drag and drive Nothing within the vehicle alive? No seated Mind that claims the moving pew, Master of Passions and of Reason too? The grand contrivance why so well equip With strength of Passions, rul'd by Reason's whip? Vainly profuse had apparatus been, Did not a reigning Spirit rest within; Which Passions carry, and sound Reason means To render present at pre-order'd scenes. They who are loud in human Reason's praise, Who celebrate the Drivers of our days, Seem to suppose by their continual bawl That Passions, Reason, and Machine, are all; To them the windows are drawn up; and clear Nothing that does not outwardly appear. Matter and Motion, and superior Man By head and shoulders, form their reas'ning plan; View'd and demurely ponder'd as they roll; And scoring traces on the Paper soul, Blank, shaven white, they fill th' unfurnish'd Pate With new Ideas, none of them innate. When these adepts are mounted on a Box Away they gallop thro' the gazing flocks, Admir'd the Trappings and high-mettled Brute, And Reason balancing its either foot; While seeing eyes discern at their approach, Fulness of skill and emptiness of Coach. 'Tis very well that lively Passions draw, That sober Reason keeps them all in awe;— The one to run, the other to control, And drive directly to the destin'd goal. "What goal?" Ay, there the question should begin;— What Spirit drives the willing Mind within? Sense, Reason, Passions, and the like, are still One self-same Man, whose action is his will; Whose will, if right, will soon renounce the pride Of an own Reason, for an Only Guide; Will still direct the Drift of his desire As God's unerring Spirit shall inspire. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CASSANDRA by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON SONNET: 25 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE HELIADES: ZEUS, BRAZEN THUNDER-HURLER by AESCHYLUS CRICKET ON THE HEARTH by PIERRE JEAN DE BERANGER MISAPPELLATION by STEPHANIE L. BINCKLI THE BAR VERSUS THE DOCKET by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD: AGLAIA. A PASTORAL by NICHOLAS BRETON |