Poems By the most deservedly Admired Mrs Katherine Philips: The matchless Orinda. To which is added Monsieur Corneille's Pompey & Horace Tragedies. With several other Translations out of French |
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Content, To my dearest Lucasia.
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Content, To my dearest Lucasia.
[1]
Content, the false World's best disguise,The search and faction of the Wise,
Is so abstruse and hid in night,
That, like that Fairy Red-cross Knight,
Who treacherous Falshood for clear Truth had got,
Men think they have it when they have it not.
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For Courts Content would gladly own,But she ne'er dwelt about a Throne:
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Are things which do Mens senses cheat.
But grave Experience long since this did see,
Ambition and Content would ne'er agree.
3
Some vainer would Content expectFrom what their bright Out-sides reflect:
But sure Content is more Divine
Than to be digg'd from Rock or Mine:
And they that know her beauties will confess,
She needs no lustre from a glittering dress.
4
In Mirth some place her, but she scornsTh' assistance of such crackling thorns,
Nor owes her self to such thin sport,
That is so sharp and yet so short:
And Painters tell us they the same strokes place,
To make a laughing and a weeping face.
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Others there are that place ContentIn Liberty from Government:
But whomsoe're Passions deprave,
Though free from shackles, he's a slave.
Content and Bondage differ only then,
When we are chain'd by Vices, not by Men.
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Some think the Camp Content does know,And that she sits o'th'Victor's brow:
But in his Laurel there is seen
Often a Cypress-bow between.
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Where Noise and Tumult and Destruction live.
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But yet the most Discreet believe,The Schools this Jewel do receive,
And thus far's true without dispute,
Knowledge is still the sweetest fruit.
But whilst men seek for Truth they lose their Peace;
And who heaps Knowledge, Sorrow doth increase.
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But now some sullen Hermite smiles,And thinks he all the World beguiles,
And that his Cell and Dish contain
What all mankind wish for in vain.
But yet his pleasure's follow'd with a Groan,
For man was never born to be alone.
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Content her self best comprehendsBetwixt two souls, and they two friends,
Whose either joyes in both are fix'd,
And multiply'd by being mix'd:
Whose minds and interests are so the same;
Their Griefs, when once imparted, lose that name.
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These far remov'd from all bold noise,And (what is worse) all hollow joyes,
Who never had a mean design,
Whose flame is serious and divine,
And calm, and even, must contented be,
For they've both Union and Society.
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Then, my Lucasia, we who haveWhatever Love can give or crave;
Who can with pitying scorn survey
The Trifles which the most betray;
With innocence and perfect friendship fir'd
By Vertue joyn'd, and by our Choice retir'd.
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Whose Mirrours are the crystal Brooks,Or else each others Hearts and Looks;
Who cannot wish for other things
Then Privacy and Friendship brings:
Whose thoughts and persons chang'd and mixt are one,
Enjoy Content, or else the World hath none.
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