The Works of Alexander Pope, Esq. ...: Moral essays

EPISTLE II.

Now then thyself, presume not God to scan,
The proper study of Mankind is Man.

Plac'd on this isthmus of a middle state,
A Being darkly wife, and rudely great:

VER. 2. Ed. ist.

VARIATIONS.

The only science of Mankind is Man.

NOTES.

VER. 2. The proper study, &c.] The poet having shewn, in the first epistle, that the Ways of God are too high for our comprehenfion, rightly draws this conclusion: and methodically makes it the fubject of his Introduction to the fecond, which treats of the Nature of Man.

VER. 3. Plac'd on this isthmus, &c.] As the poet hath given us this description of man for the very contrary purpose to which

Sceptics are wont to em ploy such kind of paintings, namely not to deter men from the fearch, but to excite them to the discovery of truth; he hath, with great judgment, represented Man as doubting and wavering between the right and wrong object; from which state there are great hopes he may be relieved by a careful and circumspect use of Reason. On the contrary, had he supposed Man so blind as to be

Plate IX.

Vol.III. facing p.26.

N. Blakey inv. & delin. 1748.

Ravenet Sculp
Sculp

Self Love still stronger, as it's Objects nigh,
Reason's at distance, and in Prospect liel
That sees immediate Good, by present Sense,
Reason the future, and the Consequence

NIL

Essay on Man, Ep. II.

With too much knowledge for the Sceptic fide,
With too much weakness for the Stoic's pride,
He hangs between; in doubt to act, or reft;
In doubt to deem himself a God, or Beast;
In doubt his Mind or Body to prefer;
Born but to die, and reas'ning but to err;
Alike in ignorance, his reason such,
Whether he thinks too little, or too much :
Chaos of Thought and Passion, all confus'd;
Still by himself abus'd, or disabus'd;
Created half to rife, and half to fall;

Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all;

NOTES.

bufied in chusing, or doubt | concerning Man's Nature.

ful in his choice, between two objects equally wrong, the cafe had appeared defperate, and all study of Man had been effectually discouraged.

VER. II. Alike in ignorance, &c.] i. e. The proper sphere of his Reason is so narrow, and the exercise of it so nice, that the too immoderate use of it is attended with the same ignorance that proceeds from the not using it at all. Yet, tho' in both these cases, he is abused by himself, he has it still in his own power to disabuse himself, in making his Paffions subservient to the means, and regulating

VER. 10. Born but to die, &c.] The author's meaning is, that, as we are born to die, and yet enjoy some small portion of life; so, though we reason to err, yet we comprehend some few truths. This is the weak state of Reason, in which Error mixes itself his Reafon by the end of with all it's true conclufions Life.

Sole judge of Truth, in endless Error hurl'd :
The glory, jest, and riddle of the world!

Go, wond'rous creature! mount where Science

guides,

Go, measure earth, weigh air, and state the tides;

VARIATIONS,

After 18. in the MS.

For more perfection than this state can bear
In vain we figh, Heav'n made us as we are.
As wisely sure a modest Ape might aim
To be like Man, whose faculties and frame
He fees, he feels, as you or I to be
An Angel thing we neither know nor fee.
Observe how near he edges on our race;
What human tricks! how risible of face!
It must be so-why else have I the sense
Of more than monkey charms and excellence?
Why else to walk on two so oft essay'd?
And why this ardent longing for a Maid?
So Pug might plead, and call his Gods unkind
Till fet on end and married to his mind.

Go, reasoning Thing! assume the Doctor's chair,
As Plato deep, as Seneca severe :

Fix moral fitness, and to God give rule,

Then drop into thyself, &c.

NOTES.

VER.. 20.

earth, &c.] Alluding to

Go, measure

noble and useful project of the modern Mathematici

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