Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THOUGHTS UPON HUMAN REASON, by JOHN BYROM


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THOUGHTS UPON HUMAN REASON, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Yes, I have read them - but I cannot find
Last Line: "have prov'd the point, by their complete rotation."
Subject(s): Human Rights; Mankind; Reason; Human Race; Intellect; Rationalism; Brain; Mind; Intellectuals


YES, I have read them—but I cannot find
Much depth of sense in writers of this kind:
They all retail, as they proceed along,
Or superficial sentiments or wrong:
Of "Reason! Reason!" they repeat the cries,
And "Reason's use"—which nobody denies.

All sharers in it follow, I suppose,
Each one his reason, as he does his nose,
When he intends to reach a certain spot,
Whether he finds the road to it or not:
With equal sense a postulatum begs
The use of reason as the use of legs.

Full well these rational adepts declaim
On points, at which their reason can take aim;
But when they talk beyond them, what mistakes,
Of various kind, their various reason makes!
All are for one same rule; and in its use
All singly clear, and mutually abstruse.

What plainer demonstration can be had,
That their original pretence is bad;
Who say—Their own, or human reason's light
Must needs direct them to determine right?
What greater proof of a superior skill
Needful to reas'ners, reason how they will?

Sense to discern, and Reason to compare,
Are gifts that merit our improving care;
But want an inward light, when all is done,
As seeds and plants do that of outward sun:
Main help neglected, tasteless fruits arise;
And wisdom grows insipid in the wise.

Tho' all these reason-worshippers profess
To guard against fanatical excess;
Enthusiastic heat, their fav'rite theme,
Draws their attention to the cold extreme;
Their fears of torrid fervors freeze a soul;
To shun the zone they send it to the pole.

The very sound of rational and plain
Contents,—where sense is neither of the twain,—
A world of readers; whose polite concern
Is to be learned, without pains to learn.
To please their palates with a modish treat,
Cheap is the cost, and here is the receipt—

"Let reason, first, imagination, passions,
"Be clean dress'd up in pretty-worded fashions;
"Then let Imagination, Passions, Reason,
"Change places round, at each commodious season;
"Till Reason, Passions, and Imagination
"Have prov'd the point, by their complete rotation."





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