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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| 3. | 3. Of Obscurity. |
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 | The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley |  |
3. Of Obscurity.
399
Seneca, ex Thyeste, Act. 2. Chor.
Stet quicunque volet, potens Aulæ culmine lubrico, &c.
Upon the slippery tops of humane State,The guilded Pinnacles of Fate,
400
The giddy danger to beguile,
With Joy, and with disdain look down on all,
Till their Heads turn, and down they, fall.
Me, O ye Gods, on Earth, or else so near
That I no Fall to Earth may fear,
And, O ye gods, at a good distance seat
From the long Ruines of the Great.
Here wrapt in th' Arms of Quiet let me ly;
Quiet, Companion of Obscurity.
Here let my Life, with as much silence slide,
As Time that measures it does glide.
Nor let the Breath of Infamy or Fame,
From town to town Eccho about my Name.
Nor let my homely Death embroidered be
With Scutcheon or with Elegie.
An old Plebean let me Dy,
Alas, all then are such as well as I.
To him, alas, to him, I fear,
The face of Death will terrible appear:
Who in his life flattering his senceless pride
By being known to all the world beside,
Does not himself, when he is Dying know
Nor what he is, nor Whither hee's to go.
| The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley | |