The old Egyptians hid their Wit

First Line The old Egyptians hid their Wit
Subject Alexander Pope
Subject Isaac Newton
Subject Beau Nash
Author Henry Norris
Date 1740
Description

Panegyric [Visual Arts; Celebrities].

Another version of this poem is "Immortal Newton, never spoke...". The last stanza is the same in both versions. 

By Henry Norris or Jane Brereton.

Transcribed from Norris, Henry. "Upon Mr N—h's Picture plac'd between the Busts of Sir Isaac Newton and Mr Pope, in Wiltshire's Room in Bath." Poems upon various subjects, 1740, p. 20. Eighteenth Century Collections Online, GALE|CW0113997373.

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Transcription

The old Egyptians hid their Wit

In Hieroglyphick Dress,

To give Men Pains in Search of it,

And please themselves with Guess.

 

Moderns to tread the self same Path,

And exercise their Parts,

Place Figures in a Room at Bath;

(Forgive them God of Arts!)

Newton, if I can judge a right,

All Wisdom does express;

His Knowledge gives Mankind Delight,

Adds to their Happiness:

Pope is the Emblem of true Wit,

The Sunshine of the Mind;

Read o're his Works in Proof of it,

You'll endless Pleasure find:

Nash represents Man in the Mass,

Made up of Wrong and Right,

Sometimes a Knave, sometimes an Ass,

Now blunt, and now polite.

The Picture plac'd the Busts between,

Adds to the Thought much Strength,

Wisdom, and Wit are little seen,

But Folly's at full Length.