Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, REASON, by JOHN POMFRET


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

REASON, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The passions still predominant will rule
Last Line: To conquer truth, and unmixed knowledge gain.
Subject(s): Reason; Intellect; Rationalism; Brain; Mind; Intellectuals


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.





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