Poems, and phancies written By the Thrice Noble, Illustrious, And Excellent Princess The Lady Marchioness of Newcastle [i.e. Margaret Cavendish]. The Second Impression, much Altered and Corrected |
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A World in an Ear-ring.
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 | Poems, and phancies |  |
A World in an Ear-ring.
An Ear-ring may well a Zodiack be,Wherein a Sun goes round, which we not see,
And Planets seven about that Sun may move,
And he stand still, as Learned men would prove;
And fixed Stars, like twinkling Diamonds plac'd
About this Ear-ring, which a World is vast;
That same which doth the Ear-ring hold, the hole,
Is that, we call the North and Southern-pole;
There nipping Frosts may be, and Winters cold,
Yet never on the Ladies Ear take hold;
And Lightning, Thunder, and great VVinds may blow
Within this Ear-ring, yet the Ear not know;
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And Islands be wherein do Spices grow;
There Crystal Rocks hang dangling at each Ear,
And Golden Mines as Jewels may they wear;
Earth-quakes may be, which Mountains vast down fling,
And yet ne're stir the Ladies Ear nor Ring;
Meddows may be, and Pastures fresh and green,
And Cattel feed, and yet be never seen;
And Gardens fine, and Birds, which sweetly sing,
Although we hear them not, in an Ear-ring:
There may be Night and Day, and Heat and Cold,
As also Life and Death, and Young and Old;
And Youth may spring, and several Ages dye,
Great Plagues may be, and no Infection nigh;
Great Cities there may be, and Houses built,
Whose inside Gay and finely may be Gilt;
Churches may they've, wherein Priests teach and sing,
And Steeples too, yet hear the Bells not Ring;
From thence may pious Tears to Heav'n up run,
And yet the Ear not know, which way they're gone:
Markets may be, where things are bought and sold,
Though th'Ear not knows the price their Markets hold.
There Governours may rule, and Kings may reign,
And Battels may be fought, and many slain,
And all within the Compass of this Ring,
Whence they no Tidings to the Wearer bring.
Within this Ring wise Counsellours may fit,
And yet the Ear not one wise word may get;
There may be Dancing all Night at a Ball,
And yet the Ear be not Disturb'd at all:
Rivals may Duels fight, where some are slain,
And Lovers mourn, yet hear them not complain;
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A Lover dead in a fair Ladies Ear;
But when the Ring is broke the World is done,
Then Lovers are into Elysium gone.
| Poems, and phancies | |