The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley Consisting of Those which were formerly Printed: And Those which he Design'd for the Press, Now Published out of the Authors Original Copies ... The Text Edited by A. R. Waller |
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 | The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley |  |
86
Wisdom.
'Tis mighty Wise that you would now be thoughtWith your grave Rules from musty Morals brought:
Through which some streaks too of Divin'ity ran,
Partly of Monk, and partly Puritan;
With tedious Repetitions too y'ave tane
Often the name of Vanity in vain.
Things, which, I take it, friend, you'd ne're recite,
Should she I love, but say t' you, Come at night.
The Wisest King refus'd all pleasures quite,
Till Wisdom from above did him enlight;
But when that gift his ign'orance did remove,
Pleasures he chose, and plac'd them all in Love.
And if by 'event the Counsels may be seen,
This wisdom 'twas that brought the Southern Queen.
She came not, like a good old Wife, to know
The wholesome nature of all Plants that grow:
Nor did so far from her own Country rome,
To cure scall'd heads, and broken shins at home;
She came for that, which more befits all Wives,
The art of Giving, not of Saving Lives.
| The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley | |