ODE LVII.
['Tis noe new thing, but a worne Maxime in]
1
'Tis noe new thing, but a worne Maxime in
The Schoole of Politickes;
A Subtle opposition; wee have seene
Many of these state trickes.
Oh! 'tis the way to rise!
And wee contemne all morall obstacles:
Give me but Power, I looke at nothing else;
I'me iust, and wise:
Let the dull honest Christian labour in
His Tracke of vertue; 'tis a Noble Sin.
2
Stay, whither am I gone? the Time's abuse
Wee never made our Theame;
The Misteries in State concerne not vs.
Alas, I did but dreame.
Mee, Innocence and Truth
Gvide in cleare Paths, without all preiudice
Or rancour. Fancie erring! how it flyes!
And takes a growth,
To a strange height. I should have ravill'd out
A loome of this, had I not lookt into't.
3
Alas! our Sober numbers never knew
To taxe men in their Crimes;
Our Muse (vnapt to Censure) ever flew
A pitch below the Times.
Wee are vncapable
To sound a Misterie, or dive into
The ocean for a Pearle; a Peeble, too,
Suits vs as well.
These, yeild the common feilds: these wee may gather
Without offence; and these, would I chuse rather.
4
Let me be free, though in a meane Estate;
And live to vse my owne,
Vnenvied in my Fortune; rather waite,
Then meet a Ioy too soone;
Direct and true in all
My purposes; Safe in the brazen tower
Of my owne brest; let Fortune laugh or loure,
I cannot fall.
Iealous of my owne Passions, free to Truth,
And Swayed by nothing, or to sleight, or Sooth.
5
But pleased in my retire, my Selfe survay,
And Studie my owne Heart;
Turne over a new leafe for everie Day,
And many things impart,
Which Common Sence and Eyes
Oft see not. 'Tis a Speculation
More pleasant then all else I yet have knowne;
And Hee that tryes
With a Discerning Light, shall weare the Spoyles
Of a Selfe-Conquest, fitt to crowne his Toyles.
6
Then kicke the world, and all Selfe-Interest;
Reiect all Hopes and Fears;
Abandon humane witt; and doe not rest
In the thin Characters,
Of weake and emptie words.
Beare vp and resigne all, to re-assume
A greater Libertie. Oh! Let me come!
My will accords
To gaine that freedome; I will loose Each part
Of Man, to see my Selfe, in my owne Heart.
