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 |  |
The Usurpation.
1
Thou hadst to my Soul no title or pretence;I was mine own, and free,
Till I had giv'n my self to Thee;
But thou hast kept me Slave and Prisoner since.
Well, since so insolent thou'rt grown,
Fond Tyrant, I'll depose thee from thy Throne;
Such outrages must not admitted be
In an Elective Monarchy.
128
2
Part of my Heart by Gift did to Thee fall;My Country, Kindred, and my best
Acquaintance were to share the rest;
But thou, their Cov'etous Neighbour, drav'est out all:
Nay more; thou mak'st me worship Thee,
And would'st the rule of my Religion be;
Was ever Tyrant claim'd such power as you,
To be both Emp'rour, and Pope too?
3
The publick Mise'ries, and my private fateDeserve some tears: but greedy Thou
(Insatiate Maid!) wilt not allow
That I one drop from thee should alienate.
Nor wilt thou grant my sins a part,
Though the sole cause of most of them thou art,
Counting my Tears thy Tribute and thy Due,
Since first mine Eyes I gave to You.
4
Thou all my Joys and all my Hopes dost claim,Thou ragest like a Fire in me,
Converting all things into Thee;
Nought can resist, or not encrease the Flame.
Nay every Grief and every Fear,
Thou dost devour, unless thy stamp it bear.
Thy presence, like the crowned Basilisks breath,
All other Serpents puts to death.
5
As men in Hell are from Diseases free,So from all other ills am I;
Free from their known Formality:
But all pains Eminently lye in Thee:
Alas, alas, I hope in vain
My conquer'd Soul from out thine hands to gain.
Since all the Natives there thou'st overthrown,
And planted Gar'isons of thine own.
| The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley | |