 | Poetical works (1908) |  |
Boetius. Libr. 2. Metr. 2.
If Mammon empty all his baggs, to storeThe greedy mind, (as Seas heap sands on shore)
If earth with Heaven vie Angels for her lovers,
And every star with golden Pieces covers;
If Plenty, hills of wealth, and mountains heaps,
And what it largely gives, as safely keeps;
The dropsie soul still whines, still thirsts, and pants
For earth, and feels not what it has but wants.
When God the mouth, the throat, the skin hath cram'd
With gold, the heart still gapes, and gasps as clam'd.
Nor earth, nor seas, nor heaven can quench this drouth:
As hell it ever yawns, ne're shuts the mouth.
What rein, what curb can bridle lustful fires?
And manage them in pace of just desires?
When all the gifts which from free Heaven came
Are but as oyl, and fuel to the flame.
He never can be full who feeds on ayre;
He never can be rich, who dreams he's poor, and bare.
| Poetical works (1908) | |