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Poems On several Choice and Various Subjects

Occasionally Composed By An Eminent Author. Collected and Published by Sergeant-Major P. F. [i.e. James Howell]

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AXIOMA.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


13

AXIOMA.

Contraria juxta se posita magis elucescunt.

Black sidelong put, or standing opposite,
Doth use to add more lustre unto White.
A Perl shines brighter in a Negro's Ear:
Some Ladies look more fair who Patches wear:
So Vice, if counterplac'd, or seated near,
Makes Vertu show more lovely, strong, and clear.
This Book hath Vice and Vertu, White and Black:
'Tis like a Crystal-Glass foyld on the back:
'Tis like a Chessboard, (or an Ermins Skin)
Checker'd with two Extreams, both out and in.
It weighs and winnows good from bad, which any
Of Europes Kingdoms have, (and they have many.)
Now, if those purer Regions of the Sky,
Where ev'ry Star's a perfect Monarchy;
If the bright Moon, and glorious Sun above
Have Spots and Motes, as Optick Glasses prove;
How then can these gross earthly Regions be,
And We that peeple them, from taintures free?
This were for us to arrogat that Bliss
Which Adam could not keep in Paradis.