University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Poems of James Graham: Marquis of Montrose

... With introduction and notes by J. L. Weir ... and a preface by the Rt. Hon. Lord Tweedsmuir

expand section 
collapse section 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
VII ON THE FAITHLESSNESS AND VENALITY OF THE TIMES
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
 XII. 
expand section 


26

VII
ON THE FAITHLESSNESS AND VENALITY OF THE TIMES

Unhappy is the Man
In whose Breast is confin'd
The Sorrows and Distresses all
Of an afflicted Mind.
The Extremity is great,
He dies if he conceal,
The World's so void of secret Friends,
Betray'd if he reveal.
Then break afflicted Hearts,
And live not in these Days,
When all prove Merchants of their Faith,
None trusts what other says.
For when the Sun doth shine,
Then Shadows do appear;
But when the Sun doth hide his Face,
They with the Sun retire.

27

Some Friends as Shadows are,
And Fortune as the Sun;
They never proffer any Help
Till Fortune first begun.
But if in any Case
Fortune shall first decay,
Then they as Shadows of the Sun,
With Fortune run away.