1. EPISTLE II. 1K Now then thyfelf, prefume not God to scan; Plac'd on this ifthmus of a middle ftate, A Being darkly wife, and rudely great: VER. 2. Ed. ift. VARIATIONS. The only science of Mankind is Mạn. NOTES. VER. 2. The proper fudy, &c.] The poet having fhewn, in the firft epistle, that the Ways of God are too high for our comprehenfion, rightly draws this conclufion 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 ifthmus, &c.] As the poet hath given us this defcription of man for the very contrary purpose to which Sceptics are wont to employ fuch 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, represent ed Man as doubting and wavering between the right and wrong object; from which ftate there are great hopes he may be relieved by a careful and circumfpect ufe of Reason. On the contrary, had he fupposed Man fo blind as to be Plate IX. Vol.III. facing p.26. N.Blakey inv. & delin.1748. Ravenet Sculp Self Love still stronger, as it's Objects nigh, Reason's at distance, and in prospect lieli That sees immediate Good, by present Sense, Reason the future, and the Consequence. Essay on Man, Ep. II. With too much knowledge for the Sceptic fide, He hangs between; in doubt to act, or reft; Created half to rife, and half to fall; NOTES. bufied in chufing, or doubt | concerning Man's Nature. ful in his choice, between two objects equally wrong, the cafe had appeared defperate, and all ftudy of Man had been effectually discouraged. VER. 11. Alike in ignorance, &c.] i. e. The proper sphere of his Reason is fo narrow, and the exercise of it so nice, that the too immoderate use of it is attended with the fame ignorance that proceeds from the not ufing it at all. Yet, tho' in both these cases, he is abused by himself, he has it ftill in his own power to difabuse himself, in making his Paffions fubfervient to the means, and regulating his Reafon by the end of VER. 10. Born but to die, &c.] The author's meaning is, that, as we are born to die, and yet enjoy fome fmall portion of life; fo, though we reafon to err, yet we comprehend fome few truths. This is the weak ftate of Reafon, in which Error mixes itself with all it's true conclufions Life. Sole judge of Truth, in endless Error hurl'd: Go, wond'rous creature! mount where Science guides, 19 Go, measure earth, weigh air, and state the tides; VARIATIONS. After 18. in the MS. For more perfection than this state can bear Till fet on end and married to his mind. Go, reafoning Thing! affume the Doctor's chair, Fix moral fitness, and to God give rule, Then drop into thyfelf, &c. NOTES. VER. 20. Go, measure | noble and useful project of earth, &c.] Alluding to the the modern Mathematici |