The passions still predominant will rule Ungoverned, rude, not bred in Reason's school; Our understanding they with darkness fill, Cause strong corruptions, and pervert the will; On these the soul, as on some flowing tide, Must sit, and on the raging billows ride, Hurried away; for how can be withstood The impetuous torrent of the boiling blood? Begone, false hopes, for all our learning's vain; Can we be free, when these the rule maintain? These are the tools of knowledge which we use; The spirits, heated, will strange things produce; Tell me, whoe'er the passions could control, Or from the body disengage the soul; Till this is done, our best pursuits are vain To conquer truth, and unmixed knowledge gain. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A STRANGE MEETING by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES UNDER THE OAK by DAVID HERBERT LAWRENCE THE SPIRIT OF NATURE by RICHARD REALF THE PRINCESS: LULLABY by ALFRED TENNYSON THE MAGPIES IN PICARDY by T. P. CAMERON WILSON LOFT AT NIGHT by VIRGINIA ABEL |