Retire;—the world shut out;—thy thoughts call home;—
Imagination’s airy wing repress;—
Lock up thy senses;—let no passion stir;—
Wake all to Reason;—let her reign alone;—
Then, in thy soul’s deep silence, and the depth
Of Nature’s silence, midnight, thus inquire,
As I have done; and shall inquire no more.
In nature’s channel, thus the questions run:
“What am I? and from whence?—I nothing know,
But that I am; and, since I am, conclude 1450