KOSMOBREVIA[Greek], or the infancy of the world With an Appendix of Gods resting day, Edon Garden; Mans Happiness before, Misery after, his Fall. Whereunto is added, The Praise of Nothing; Divine Ejaculations; The four Ages of the world; The Birth of Christ; Also a Century of Historical Applications; With a Taste of Poetical fictions. Written some years since by N. B.[i.e. Nicholas Billingsley] ... And now published at the request of his Friends |
 |
 | KOSMOBREVIA[Greek], or the infancy of the world |  |
124
On Ambition.
Ambition is a Gyant, which aspiresNo higher then the heavens; it desires
Reach at priority, she scorns to be
O'retop'd, nay more, she will not, no not she:
Honor's her aime, 'tis honor is the thing
That mounts her thoughts imp'd to an Eagles wing
She climbs on Pelion, if that will not doe,
On Pelion's back, she'll through mount Ossa too:
Why not? sayes she, why may not I inherit
What others have, since my transcending merrit
Eclipses theirs? what e're it cost me, I
By right, or wrong, will get priority.
I am no mungrel brat, but freely born
To no mean fortunes, slavery I scorn:
Be he a King, or whatsoe're he be
I have as much right to be rich as he.
I'le rout out all the black-coats, if I can,
The greatest Clerk is not the wisest man:
Of such new light my spirit hath discerning,
As they cannot attaine for all their learning.
My fingers itch to pull the Clergy down,
And strike the Sarrs with my advanced crown.
125
At youg designes? know there's a God of thunder,
Can crush your Giant-like assaults; his power
Weakens the proud; remember Babels Tower.
Ambious Phaeton his fond desire
Ruin'd himselfe, and set the world on fire.
Icarus flyes, but Icarus his wings
Are cing'd, and cold, and head-long ruin brings.
Aspiring Pharo perished through pride.
And Bellisarius beg'd before he dy'd.
Nebucadnezar striving to be full
Of honor is become a belowing Bull.
VVhile the Philosopher his eyes did pitch
Vp to the Starrs, he fell into a dich.
Claudius would be a God, yet doth he dread
The voyce of thunder underneath his bed,
Strange kind of Diety! his head he hides,
Vanting Sosostrates in's Chariot rides,
Drawn by those Kings he to subjection brought.
So highly of himself King Hero thought,
He would be brother to the Sun and King
Of Kings: proud Sappho learn'd the Birds to sing,
The great god Sappho for to rule alone
Constantine drave his mother from her throne.
Brave blades! but what, save Monuments of shame,
Left they behind? our Levellers which claim
128
Shall, notwithstanding their projecting pates,
Be crushed in the shell; and their intrusion
Upon themselves, not others bring confusion:
And though at goverment they lowdly baul,
Both civil, and Eclesiasticall;
Blow Pauls down at a breath they may as soon
As work their overthrough: Dogs at the Moon
May bark, but cannot bite; The curstest Cow
Hath shortest horns; Their stouter hearts shall bow
Our upstart Zealots, and aspiring Elves,
Striking at learning, shall strike down themselves.
| KOSMOBREVIA[Greek], or the infancy of the world | |