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 Frailty.
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 | The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley |  |
113
The Frailty.
1
I know 'tis sordid, and 'tis low;(All this as well as you I know)
Which I so hotly now pursue;
(I know all this as well as you)
But whilst this cursed flesh I bear,
And all the Weakness, and the Baseness there,
Alas, alas, it will be always so.
2
In vain, exceedingly in vainI rage sometimes, and bite my Chain;
For to what purpose do I bite
With Teeth which ne're will break it quite?
For if the chiefest Christian Head,
Was by this sturdy Tyrant buffeted,
What wonder is it, if weak I be slain?
| The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley | |