ODE V.
[Where, where resides content?]
1.
Where, where resides content?
The ioy which mortalls faigne:
'Tis neither in Extent
Of Power, nor full-mouth'd gaine;
Nor in the Emptie Shade
Of honour; nor in Trade,
Nor in vast riot, nor in Swelling boules;
Nor what wee pleasure call,
Diversified. The wall
Of Pallaces are emptie as the holes
Of Scornéd Peasants. Wee may looke
The universe, in everie nooke;
And Cherish giddie Fancie, that wee shall
Find, what is not at all.
2.
For wee may apprehend
Full ioy, in the pursuit
Of our desires; which End,
Before they come to fruit.
Soe doe I often borrow
My pleasures from the morrow;
It comes, and yet my Ioy has noe more Life;
For what can Time produce,
But moveing? Never thus
Will I be Slave to Transitorie Strife;
I will propose vnto my Soule,
A Pleasure beyond Time's controule;
A Path, where Innocence shall teach my Muse
The Raptures she would Chuse.
3.
And there find out, what mortalls, with their Sweat,
Could never gett;
And in the Sober heights of vertue, Clime
To goodlie ravishment;
Vntouch't by Envie, vnimpaired by Time;
For to be free, with a heart Innocent,
Is onlie true Content.
