Essay on Man Index of First Lines

EPISTLE 1

Intro · Awake my St. John! Leave all meaner things
I · Say, first of God above or man below
II · Presumptuous Man! the reason wouldst thou find,
III · Heaven from all creatures hides the book of Fate
IV · Go wiser thou! and in thy scale of sense
V · Ask for what end the heavenly bodies shine,
VI · What would this Man? Now upward will he soar,
VII · Far as creation’s ample range extends,
VIII · See through this air, this ocean, and this earth
IX ·What if the foot, ordain’d the dust to tread,
X · Cease then, nor Order imperfection name:

EPISTLE 2

I · Know then thyself, presume not God to scan,
II · Two principles in human nature reign,
III · Modes of self-love the passions we may call;
IV · This light and darkness in our chaos join’d,
V · Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
VI · Virtuous and vicious every man must be

EPISTLE 3

I · Here, then, we rest: “The Universal Cause
II · Whether with reason, or with instinct blest,
III · God in the nature of each being founds
IV · Nor think, in Nature’s state they blindly trod;
V · Great Nature spoke; observant men obeyed;
VI · Till then, by Nature crowned, each patriarch sate,

EPISTLE 4

I · Happiness! our being’s end and aim!
II · Take Nature’s path and mad Opinion’s leave
III · Oh, blind to truth, and God’s whole scheme below,
IV · “But sometimes virtue starves, while vice is fed.”
V · Know then this truth (enough for man to know)

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *