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 |  |
201
Life and Fame.
1.
Oh Life, thou Nothings younger Brother!So like, that one might take One for the other!
What's Some Body, or No Body?
In all the Cobwebs of the Schoolmens trade,
202
As 'tis To be, or Not to Be.
Dream of a Shadow! a Reflection made
From the false glories of the gay reflected Bow,
Is a more solid thing then Thou.
Vain weak-built Isthmus, which dost proudly rise
Up betwixt two Eternities;
Yet canst nor Wave nor Wind sustain,
But broken and orewhelm'd, the endless Oceans meet again.
2.
And with what rare Inventions do we strive,Our selves then to survive?
Wise, subtle Arts, and such as well befit
That Nothing Mans no Wit.
Some with vast costly Tombs would purchase it,
And by the proofs of Death pretend to Live.
Here lies the Great—False Marble, where?
Nothing but small, and sordid Dust lies there.
Some build enormous Mountain-Palaces,
The Fools and Architects to please:
A lasting Life in well-hew'en Stone they rear:
So he who on th' Egyptian shore,
Was slain so many hundred years before,
Lives still (Oh Life most happy and most dear!
Oh Life that Epicures envy to hear!)
Lives in the dropping Ruines of his Ampitheater.
3.
His Father in Law an higher place does claimIn the Seraphique Entity of Fame.
He since that Toy his Death,
Does fill all Mouths, and breathes in all mens Breath.
'Tis true, the two Immortal Syllables remain,
But, Oh ye learned men, explain,
What Essence, what Existence this,
What Substance, what Subsistence, what Hypostasis
In Six poor Letters is?
In those alone does the Great Cæsar live,
'Tis all the Conquered World could give.
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With a refin'ed Phantastick Vanitie,
Think we not onely Have, but Give Eternitie.
Fain would I see that Prodigal,
Who his To-morrow would bestow,
For all old Homers Life e're since he Dy'ed till now.
| The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley | |