The poems of George Daniel :: :: University of Virginia Library

The poems of George Daniel

... From the original mss. in the British Museum: Hitherto unprinted. Edited, with introduction, notes, and illustrations, portrait, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart: In four volumes

Daniel, George (1616-1657)

II.

[Portrait of the Author.]

III, IV.

The severall Raignes of Richard the Second Henrie the Fourth, & Henrie the Fifth

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ODE XLI.

[I doe not glorie in my Fate.]

1

I doe not glorie in my Fate.
Nor prise it at an vnder rate.
I doe not boast
Anything I possesse. I am not tyed
Against my Iudgement, vnto any Syde;
Nor am I lost
Soe much to reason, that I chuse
Supported Error, and refuse
Neglected Truth;
Contented to abide
Her votarie, against the vulgar mouth.

2

Let the full Pens of vanitie Contend
In what they please;
And gaine the Ende
Of their owne seeking, humane Praise;
Lost, with the Breath wherein it straies.
I cannot fall
To flatter Pride and Follie in her Ease;

But speake my knowledge, though it should displease
The common-Hall
Of Ignorance; and if I meet
Death, I have found my winding Sheet.

3

I am a Man; in everie Step
Of Life I tread, and cannot leape
Above that name;
Nor can I grovell, in a bruitish way,
Lost to my nature. This is all. I say
I am that Same
Vnsteddye thing wee call a man;
Limited in my Selfe; and can
Neither deface
Nor yet array
That Image; 'Tis my Glorie, my Disgrace.