Comparing the Tongue to a Wheel

1
The tongue’s a wheel, to spin words from the mind,
A thread of sense by th’understanding’s twined;2
The lips, a loom, these words of sense to weave3
Into discourse, which to the ears they leave.4
This cloth i’th’chest of memory’s laid up,5                           5
Till into shirts of judgments it6 be cut.

  1. Comparing the Tongue to a Wheel] Nature’s Wheel. 1664, 1668. The title in 1664 and 1668 exists as a marginal note in Cavendish’s 1653 text.
  2. by th’understanding’s twined;] doth Understanding twine. 1653
  3. these words of sense to weave] to weave those words of Sense, 1653
  4. discourse, which to the ears they leave.] a fine Discourse each Eare presents. 1653
  5. memory’s laid up,] Mem’ry up is shut, 1664, 1668
  6. Till into shirts of judgments it] Untill for Judgments Shirts it out 1653