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Poems, and phancies

written By the Thrice Noble, Illustrious, And Excellent Princess The Lady Marchioness of Newcastle [i.e. Margaret Cavendish]. The Second Impression, much Altered and Corrected

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The several Keys of Nature, which Unlock the several Boxes of her Cabinet.

A Bunch of Keys did Hang by Nature's side,
Which She, to open her five Boxes try'd;
The first was Wit, which Key unlock'd the Ear,
Open'd the Brain, to see what things were there;
The next was Beauty's Key unlock'd the Eyes,
Open'd the Heart, to see what therein lies;
The third was Appetite, which quick did go,
Opening the Stomack, to put Meat into;
The Key of Sent unlock'd the Brain, though hard,
For of a Stink the Nose is much afear'd;
The Key of Pain did open Touch, but slow,
For Nature's loath any Disease to show.
 

The five Boxes are the five Senses, and the Cabinet is the Brain.