Prison-Pietie or, Meditations Divine and Moral. Digested into Poetical Heads, On Mixt and Various Subjects. Whereunto is added A Panegyrick to The Right Reverend, and most Nobly descended, Henry, Lord Bishop of London. By Samuel Speed, Prisoner in Ludgate, London |
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I would, but cannot. |
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I would, but cannot.
I Would be rich, but Riches fly away;I would be great, but 'tis with Envy blended;
I would be fair, but Beauty doth decay;
I would be brave, but 'tis with Pride attended.
I would be worldly-wise, but that is Folly;
I would be strong, but 'tis a Beast-like guise;
I would be thought religious, that's unholy;
I would be learned, but it makes not wise.
These vain Endowments soon draw to an end;
To each there is a But that doth attend.
Thus Fate, who stops the race of worldly glory,
Shews such Endowments are but transitory.
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