Dia Poemata Poetick Feet Standing Upon Holy Ground: Or, Verses on certain Texts of Scripture. With Epigrams, &c. By E. E. [i.e. Edmund Elys] |
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[How light is Man! by ev'ry wind] |
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[How light is Man! by ev'ry wind]
Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high
degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance they are
altogether lighter then vanity,
Ps. 629.
How light is Man! by ev'ry wind
Of fortune here, or there Inclin'd!
Her blasts dispell his chiefest Trust:
And toss him to and fro, like Dust.
He's oft Puft up by th' Peoples Breath,
And, bubble-like, so vanisheth:
Oft whirled on the wings of Fame,
And swallow'd up by a Great Name.
Inferiours scorn'd are: Great men curst;
Or swoll'n with Pride untill they Burst.
Praise, Honor, Riches, Earthly Glory,
Like man, are Pilgrims, Transitory:
Till th'Night of Ignorance decline,
These Glow worms seem to him to shine.
So light's his Head! that Sov'raigne Part,
He'th nothing Heavy, but his Heart;
Which Drunk with Pleasure, still doth reele,
Or else is Broke on Fortunes Wheel.
Vain's all his Labour: vain his thought:
Himself's but once remov'd from nought.
Void of all Solidity,
He's lighter then vanity.
All is Vanity, but He's
Vanity of Vanities.
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