 | Poems on several subjects |  |
On FORTUNE.
I know not what mischievous jarring odds
Sometimes fall out among the factious gods:
But oftentimes dame Fortune, being blind,
She gets a clash or redding-stroke behind,
That makes her stagger, and confus'dly reel,
And miss the centre of her ticklish wheel;
She and her favourites cry barlafumble,
While in the dirt they topsy-turvy tumble.
Such accidents have many mischiefs done:
They kick'd a Charles from the British throne;
While on the top he safely seem'd to tread,
The wheel soon turn'd, the monarch lost his head.
Sometimes fall out among the factious gods:
But oftentimes dame Fortune, being blind,
She gets a clash or redding-stroke behind,
That makes her stagger, and confus'dly reel,
And miss the centre of her ticklish wheel;
She and her favourites cry barlafumble,
While in the dirt they topsy-turvy tumble.
Such accidents have many mischiefs done:
They kick'd a Charles from the British throne;
While on the top he safely seem'd to tread,
The wheel soon turn'd, the monarch lost his head.
But she by wings still to the top is borne,
And in her hand holds Amalthea's horn;
Bidding all mortals, high and low, repair
To her, and of the same rich plenty share.
And in her hand holds Amalthea's horn;
Bidding all mortals, high and low, repair
To her, and of the same rich plenty share.
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But that sleek wheel, whereon the strumpet treads,
Still hovers o'er the dark oblivion shades:
Yet heedless mortals by her philters drawn,
To gain the top, their very souls will pawn:
Like swarms of bees ambitiously they climb,
And wrestle to ascend the slipp'ry rim;
Yet some saint-hearted heavy arses sway
The wheel half round, thence in the dirt go they,
While on the other side aloft some rise,
Insulting, as they would invade the skies;
Rivals in direct opposition hing,
And thousand vot'ries their petitions bring,
Imploring Fortune to send favour down,
And their endeavours with glad success crown
She deals to all, both honest man and rogue,
By chance, just as the blind man kill'd the dog:
Some get preferment; other some obtain
A virtue to increase and manage gain;
Whilst other wrestlers, that might merit plead,
In no endeavours ever can succeed.
Still hovers o'er the dark oblivion shades:
Yet heedless mortals by her philters drawn,
To gain the top, their very souls will pawn:
Like swarms of bees ambitiously they climb,
And wrestle to ascend the slipp'ry rim;
Yet some saint-hearted heavy arses sway
The wheel half round, thence in the dirt go they,
While on the other side aloft some rise,
Insulting, as they would invade the skies;
Rivals in direct opposition hing,
And thousand vot'ries their petitions bring,
Imploring Fortune to send favour down,
And their endeavours with glad success crown
She deals to all, both honest man and rogue,
By chance, just as the blind man kill'd the dog:
Some get preferment; other some obtain
A virtue to increase and manage gain;
Whilst other wrestlers, that might merit plead,
In no endeavours ever can succeed.
Thus she unconstant, without judgment, roves;
She'll hate to-morrow, whom to day she loves:
And whom she hates is seldom reconcil'd;
No more her favours are to them reveal'd.
Just like a friend, suspicious causeless grown,
Whose wonted smiles turn to an angry frown;
His threat'ning aspect dire resentment shows,
Though nought save innocence his party knows:
So she, if disoblig'd, or, which is worse,
If she but think so, doth intail her curse.
She'll hate to-morrow, whom to day she loves:
And whom she hates is seldom reconcil'd;
No more her favours are to them reveal'd.
Just like a friend, suspicious causeless grown,
Whose wonted smiles turn to an angry frown;
His threat'ning aspect dire resentment shows,
Though nought save innocence his party knows:
So she, if disoblig'd, or, which is worse,
If she but think so, doth intail her curse.
Great monarchies, and glorious empires, she
Has laid in dust by her austeritie;
Besides ten thousand thousand families
By her o'erthrown in dark oblivion lyes:
Nay, heroes proud, that could the world command,
Could never her unconstant freaks withstand.
Th'aspiring youth need not her favour plead.
Nor does she ought regard the hoary head:
The rich, tho' rais'd to fame's stupenduous height,
Cannot secure her favours for one night:
She slights religion, and the learned schools;
But favours most the covetous and fools.
Has laid in dust by her austeritie;
Besides ten thousand thousand families
By her o'erthrown in dark oblivion lyes:
Nay, heroes proud, that could the world command,
Could never her unconstant freaks withstand.
Th'aspiring youth need not her favour plead.
Nor does she ought regard the hoary head:
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Cannot secure her favours for one night:
She slights religion, and the learned schools;
But favours most the covetous and fools.
| Poems on several subjects | |