Of The Nature of Things - The Original Classic Edition. Carus Titus

ABSENCE OF SECONDARY QUALITIES

       Now come, this wisdom by my sweet toil sought Look thou perceive, lest haply thou shouldst guess That the white objects shining to thine eyes

       Are gendered of white atoms, or the black Of a black seed; or yet believe that aught That's steeped in any hue should take its dye From bits of matter tinct with hue the same. For matter's bodies own no hue the least-- Or like to objects or, again, unlike.

       But, if percase it seem to thee that mind

       Itself can dart no influence of its own

       Into these bodies, wide thou wand'rest off.

       For since the blind-born, who have ne'er surveyed

       The light of sun, yet recognise by touch

       Things that from birth had ne'er a hue for them,

       'Tis thine to know that bodies can be brought

       No less unto the ken of our minds too,

       Though yet those bodies with no dye be smeared. Again, ourselves whatever in the dark

       We touch, the same we do not find to be

       Tinctured with any colour.

       Now that here

       I win the argument, I next will teach