Poems on Several Occasions With Imitations from Horace, Ovid, Martial, Theocritus, Bachylides, Anacreon, &c. To which is prefix'd A Discourse on Criticism, and the Liberty of Writing. In a letter to a Friend. By Samuel Cobb ... The Third Edition. To which is added, Poems on the Duke of Marlborough, Prince Eugene, the Electoral Prince of Hannover, with other Poems. Never before Printed |
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OF VAIN WISHES. |
 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
OF VAIN WISHES.
By Error led, Unwary Minds pursue
Imagin'd Pleasure, and Neglect the True;
Things far remote from solid Good desire,
And what's Destructive, to themselves require.
They gain their Wish, but curse the false Embrace,
And find a Cloud in Royal Juno's Place.
The busie World's inquisitive to know;
To what strange Spring their Happiness they owe,
Which like Nile's secret Head, unknown does flow.
Imagin'd Pleasure, and Neglect the True;
Things far remote from solid Good desire,
And what's Destructive, to themselves require.
They gain their Wish, but curse the false Embrace,
And find a Cloud in Royal Juno's Place.
The busie World's inquisitive to know;
To what strange Spring their Happiness they owe,
Which like Nile's secret Head, unknown does flow.
281
Some Court, like Midas, Gold's alluring Charms,
Some, like Pelides, Honour seek in Arms.
Unhappy both, who both their Wish enjoy'd,
By glittering Gold, and shining Arms destroy'd.
Some, like Pelides, Honour seek in Arms.
Unhappy both, who both their Wish enjoy'd,
By glittering Gold, and shining Arms destroy'd.
Others, that Wealth's the chiefest Good, maintain,
And perish in the mad Pursuit of Gain.
Others, ambitious of a lasting Name,
With certain Danger hunt uncertain Fame.
Nor less their Frenzy, who affect a Crown,
To save with Smiles, and murder with a Frown.
Wise by Experience, they too late will know
The painful Pageantry of Scepter'd Woe.
The Purple o'er their Shoulders may be spread,
And sparkling Diadems adorn their Head.
But all within is Fear, and anxious Care,
Which the vex'd Heart, like greedy Vultures, tear.
Then will they curse their Wishes, sad Extreams,
Their empty Fancies, and beguiling Dreams.
As a poor Wretch, whom a long Fast has curst
With gnawing Hunger, and tormenting Thirst,
Rich in his Sleep, riots on Sumptuous Meals,
Toils at the Bowl, and flowing Bacchus swills:
But, waken'd from his fancied Feast, he mourns,
His Hunger tortures, and his Thirst returns.
Such He, whose Paradise in Empire lies;
The gaudy Opera deludes his Eyes,
Till the Scene shuts, and the false Vision flies.
And perish in the mad Pursuit of Gain.
Others, ambitious of a lasting Name,
With certain Danger hunt uncertain Fame.
Nor less their Frenzy, who affect a Crown,
To save with Smiles, and murder with a Frown.
Wise by Experience, they too late will know
The painful Pageantry of Scepter'd Woe.
The Purple o'er their Shoulders may be spread,
And sparkling Diadems adorn their Head.
282
Which the vex'd Heart, like greedy Vultures, tear.
Then will they curse their Wishes, sad Extreams,
Their empty Fancies, and beguiling Dreams.
As a poor Wretch, whom a long Fast has curst
With gnawing Hunger, and tormenting Thirst,
Rich in his Sleep, riots on Sumptuous Meals,
Toils at the Bowl, and flowing Bacchus swills:
But, waken'd from his fancied Feast, he mourns,
His Hunger tortures, and his Thirst returns.
Such He, whose Paradise in Empire lies;
The gaudy Opera deludes his Eyes,
Till the Scene shuts, and the false Vision flies.
But lest for Substance you mistake the Shape,
By fondly flying to the painted Grape:
Unmask the Things, their real In-side view,
Which, if (when naked) they can charm, pursue.
If not, transfer your Love, to Heaven repair,
Who always listens to a modest Prayer.
A healthy Body and contented Mind,
A Dove-like Innocence, with Prudence joyn'd,
A pure, but honest, active Ease implore;
Take what kind Heaven bestows, and ask no more.
Confine your Will to Things within your Power,
Nor boldly Hope, nor dread your latter Hour.
Gold, Honour, Empire, for a time amaze,
And flash, like Lightning, with a transient Blaze;
But Nobler Vertue, like the Vestal Fire,
Burns with a chaster Flame, and never can Expire.
By fondly flying to the painted Grape:
Unmask the Things, their real In-side view,
Which, if (when naked) they can charm, pursue.
283
Who always listens to a modest Prayer.
A healthy Body and contented Mind,
A Dove-like Innocence, with Prudence joyn'd,
A pure, but honest, active Ease implore;
Take what kind Heaven bestows, and ask no more.
Confine your Will to Things within your Power,
Nor boldly Hope, nor dread your latter Hour.
Gold, Honour, Empire, for a time amaze,
And flash, like Lightning, with a transient Blaze;
But Nobler Vertue, like the Vestal Fire,
Burns with a chaster Flame, and never can Expire.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |