The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes — John Shaqi
The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical NotesDarwin, Erasmus
Philosophy
The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society: A Poem, with Philosophical Notes
Darwin, Erasmus
Cosmology -- Poetry; Life -- Origin -- Poetry
[Footnote: _With laugh repress'd_, l. 434. The cause of the
violent actions of laughter, and of the difficulty of
restraining them, is a curious subject of inquiry. When pain
afflicts us, which we cannot avoid, we learn to relieve it by
great voluntary exertions, as in grinning, holding the
breath, or screaming; now the pleasurable sensation, which
excites laughter, arises for a time so high as to change its
name, and become a painful one; and we excite the convulsive
motions of the respiratory muscles to relieve this pain. We
are however unwilling to lose the pleasure, and presently put
a stop to this exertion; and immediately the pleasure recurs,
and again as instantly rises into pain. Which is further
explained in Zoonomia, Sect. 34. 1. 4. When this pleasurable
sensation rises into a painful one, and the customs of
society will not permit us to laugh aloud, some other violent
voluntary exertion is used instead of it to alleviate the
pain.]
[Footnote: _With smile chastised_, l. 434. The origin of the
smile has generally been ascribed to inexplicable instinct,
but may be deduced from our early associations of actions and
ideas. In the act of sucking, the lips of the infant are
closed round the nipple of its mother, till it has filled its
stomach, and the pleasure of digesting this grateful food
succeeds; then the sphincter of the mouth, fatigued by the
continued action of sucking, is relaxed; and the antagonist
muscles of the face gently acting, produce the smile of
pleasure, which is thus during our lives associated with
gentle pleasure, which is further explained in Zoonomia,
Sect. 16. 8. 4.]
Now at her nod the Nymphs attendant bring
Translucent water from the bubbling spring;
In crystal cups the waves salubrious shine,
Unstain'd untainted with immodest wine.
Next, where emerging from its ancient roots
Its widening boughs the Tree of Knowledge shoots; 440
Pluck'd with nice choice before the Muse they placed
The now no longer interdicted taste.
Awhile they sit, from higher cares released,
And pleased partake the intellectual feast.
Of good and ill they spoke, effect and cause,
Celestial agencies, and Nature's laws.
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