Sense is deceitful, and may feign
As well in counterfeiting pain
As other gross phenomenas,
In which it oft mistakes the case,190
But since th' immortal intellect,
That's free from error and defect,
Whose objects still persist the same,
Is free from outward bruise or maim,
Which nought external can expose 195
To gross material bangs or blows,
It follows we can ne'er be sure
Whether we pain or not endure;
And just so far are sore and griev'd.
As by the fancy is believ'd. 200
Some have been wounded with conceit,
And died of mere opinion straight;[1]
Others, tho' wounded sore, in reason
Felt no contusion, nor discretion.[2]
A Saxon Duke did grow so fat, 205
That mice, as histories relate,
Ate grots and labyrinths to dwell in
His postique parts, without his feeling;[3]
Then how is't possible a kick
Should e'er reach that way to the quick?210
Quoth she, I grant it is in vain,
For one that's basted to feel pain;
- ↑ That is, died of fear. Several stories to this effect are upon record; one of the most remarkable is the case of the Chevalier Jarre, "who was upon the scaffold at Troyes, had his hair cut off, the handkerchief before his eyes, and the sword in the executioner's hand to cut off his head; but the king pardoned him: being taken up, his fear had so taken hold of him, that he could not stand or speak: they led him to bed, and opened a vein, but no blood would come." Lord Stratford's Letters, vol. i. p. 166.
- ↑ According to the punctuation, it signifies, others, though really and sorely wounded (see the Lady's Reply, line 211), felt no bruise or cut: but if we put a semicolon after sore, and no stop after reason, the meaning may be, others, though wounded sore in body, yet in mind or imagination felt no bruise or cut. Discretion here signifies a cut, or separation of parts.
- ↑ He argues from this story, that if a man could be so gnawed and mangled without feeling it, a kick in the same place would not inflict much hurt. The note in the old editions, attributed to Butler himself, cites the Rhine legend of Bishop Hatto, "who was quite eaten up by rats and mice," as much more strange.
