This is the second part of Sir John Davies's "Nosce Teipsum." It focuses specifically on the nature of the human soul and its potential for immortality. Davies builds upon the foundation laid in the first part, "Of Human Knowledge," by exploring the soul's relationship to the body and its capacity for understanding beyond the physical realm. He uses religious and philosophical arguments to support his belief in the soul's survival after death. The poem is a significant contribution to Renaissance thought on the soul and its place in the universe. It's a shorter work compared to the first part, but equally profound in its exploration of spiritual and philosophical themes.
Sir John Davies's "Nosce Teipsum" is a two-part poetic treatise exploring the nature of human knowledge and the soul's immortality. The first part, "Of Human Knowledge," delves into the limitations of human understanding and our tendency to pursue trivial knowledge while neglecting self-awareness. The second part, "Of the Soul of Man and the Immortality Thereof," examines the soul's nature and its potential for eternal life. Davies uses philosophical arguments and vivid imagery to convey his ideas, challenging readers to reflect on their own understanding of themselves and the world. The poem's enduring relevance lies in its timeless exploration of fundamental questions about human existence and the pursuit of knowledge.
We that acquaint ourselves with every zone,And pass both tropics and behold the poles,When we come home, are to ourselves unknown,And unacquainted still with our own souls.
Today’s poem is Davies’ lengthy meditation on what man can know and what he could stand to learn. Happy reading.
Poet and lawyer Sir John Davies was born in Wiltshire and educated at Winchester College and Queen’s College, Oxford, though historians disagree about whether he graduated. In 1588, he enrolled in the Middle Temple, where he studied with John Donne, and was called to the bar in 1595. In addition to his legal study, Davies wrote poetry, notably Orchestra, or, A Poeme of Dancing (1596). Davies’s other works include a series of epigrams drawn from his youthful misadventures; Nosce teipsum (1594), a poetic treatise on the immortality of the soul; and Hymnes of Astraea in Acrosticke Verse (1599),an acrostic poem spelling the words Elisabetha Regina. Davies also contributed poetic dialogues to Francis Davison’s Poetical Rhapsody(1602). His Collected Poems appeared in 1622. It is thought that Davies accompanied King James to Scotland after Queen Elizabeth’s death in 1603. Eventually knighted by the king, Davies was made solicitor general for Ireland and emerged as a champion of legal reform in Ireland. He attempted to lay the grounds for a strong civil society, albeit one that benefited England and English rule in all cases. Davies helped cement pro-English property laws and advocated the expulsion of Catholic priests to shore up Protestantism. He was appointed speaker in the Irish Parliament in 1613 and presided over the first Protestant majority. He returned to England and served in the Parliament of 1621. Charles I appointed Davies lord chief justice in 1626, but he died just before officially taking office. John Donne gave his funeral oration. Davies was buried in St. Martin-in-the-Fields.
-bio via Poetry Foundation
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