To its blessed state of paradise before : Methinks I see great Diocletian walk 'If I, my friends," (said he,)" should to you show And trust me not, my friends, if ev'ry day Than ever, after the most happy fight, To thank the gods, and to be thought, myself almost a god." VANITY OF RICHES. WHY dost thou heap up wealth, which thou must quit, Or, what is worse, be left by it? Why dost thou load thyself, when thou'rt to fly, Why dost thou build up stately rooms on high, X Thou sow'st and plantest, but no fruit must see, Thou dost thyself wise and industrious deem; Officious fool! thou needs must meddling be For when to future years thou extend'st thy cares, Ev'n aged men, as if they truly were In the last point of their short line. Wisely the ant against poor winter hoards The stock which summer's wealth affords; In grasshoppers, which must in autumn die, How vain were such an industry! Of pow'r and honour the deceitful light Might half excuse our cheated sight, Like lightning that, begot but in a cloud, (Though shining bright, and speaking loud,) Whilst it begins, concludes its violent race, And where it gilds, it wounds the place. Oh scene of fortune, which dost fair appear Proud poverty, that tinsel brav'ry wears; Be prudent, and the shore in prospect keep; In a weak boat trust not the deep: Plac'd beneath envy, above envying rise; Pity great men, great things despise. The wise example of the heav'nly lark, ROBERT HERRICK. BORN 1591. HERRICK, though not originally designed for the church, nor of a temper suited to the sacred profession, took orders, and held a living in Devonshire; being ejected from which, he laid aside the habit, and with it, apparently, the restraints of a clergyman; but resumed his gown after the restoration. To the curious in our poetical literature his writings are well known; for the general reader it is to be desired, notwithstanding the fascination of his style and the melodious movement of his verse, that they should remain in their present obscurity. Happily they are likely, as a whole, so to remain; for no other age but his own could tolerate the grossness of many of them. |