Head and Brain Dressed

1

A brain wherein no dullness doth appear,2
From gross opinions washed with reasons clear;3
A4 judgement hard and sound, grated therein;5
Quick wit squeezed into it, with6 fancies thin;
A bunch of scent7, sounds, colours, tied up fast             5
With threads of motion, and strong nerves to last.
In memory then stew them with long time,8
So take them up, and put in spirits of wine.9
Then pour it10 forth into a dish of touch;
The meat is good, although it is11 not much.                   10

  1. Brain Dressed] Braines. 1653
  2. wherein no dullness doth appear,] that’s wash’d with Reasons cleare, 1653
  3. washed with reasons clear;] Dulnesse lying there; 1653
  4. A] And 1653
  5. grated therein] is grated in, 1653
  6. Quick wit squeezed into it, with] Whereto is squeesed Wit, and 1653
  7. scent,] Sent, 1653; Sent, 1664
  8. In memory then stew them with long time,] Stew’d with long Time in Memory close shut, 1664; Stew’d with long Time; in Memory close shut: 1668
  9. So take them up, and put in spirits of wine.] Spirits instead of Wine into it put, 1664; Spirits, instead of Wine, into it put: 1668
  10. Then pour it] And then pour’d 1664; And then pour’d 1668
  11. The meat is good, although it is] ’Tis good and wholesome Meat, although 1664; ’Tis good and wholsome Meat, although 1668