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Know then thy God, presume not Man to scan,
the proper study of Mankind is Pan!
The wheel weal turns from fire to frying pan,
a vicious circle, - plot another plan.
Sole fudge of truth, in endless error hurl’d:
sad story, jest and terror of the world!
15 March 1975 Parody Alexander POPE 1688_1744 – An Essay on Man
An Essay on Man_19750315_Know then thy God, presume not Man to scan ROBIN Jonathan 1947_2006 robi3_0017_robi3_0000 PWX_EXX
ROBIN Jonathan 1947_2006 robi3_0017_pope1_0002 PWX_EXX An Essay on Man_Know then thy God, presume not Man to scan
An Essay on Man
The Riddle of the World
Know 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 wise, and rudely great:
With too much knowledge for the sceptic side,
With too much weakness for the stoic’s pride,
He hangs between; in doubt to act, or rest;
In doubt to deem himself a god, or geast;
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 rise, and half to fall;
Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all;
Sole judge of truth, in endless error hurl’d:
The glory, jest and riddle of the world!
Alexander POPE 1688_1744
POPE Alexander 1688_1744 pope1_0002_pope1_0000 XXX_EXX An Essay on Man_Know then thyself, presume not God to scan
Jonathan ROBIN
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