The poems and translations of Sir Edward Sherburne (1616-1702) excluding Seneca and Manilius Introduced and Annotated by F. J. Van Beeck |
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 | The poems and translations of Sir Edward Sherburne (1616-1702) |  |
To the Eternall WISEDOME:
Vpon the Distraction of the Times.
O thou Eternall Mind! whose VVisedome sees,And rules our Changes by unchang'd Decrees,
As with Delight on thy grave Works We look,
Say; art thou too with our light Follies took?
For when thy bounteous Hand, in liberall Showres
Each where diffus'd, thy various Blessings powres;
VVe catch at them with strife as vain to sight,
As Children, when for Nuts they scrambling, fight.
This snatching at a Scepter breaks it; He,
That broken does e're he can graspe it, see.
The poor World seeming like a Ball, that lights
Betwixt the hands of Pow'rfull Opposites:
VVhich while they cantonize in their bold Pride,
They but an Immaterial Point divide.
O whilst for VVealthy Spoyles these fight, let Me,
Though poor, enjoy a happy Peace with Thee.
| The poems and translations of Sir Edward Sherburne (1616-1702) | |