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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Of Humility.
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 | Poems, and phancies |  |
Of Humility.
When with returning Thoughts I do beholdMy self, I find all Creatures of that Mould,
And for the Mind, which some say is like Gods,
I do not find 'twixt Man and Beast such Odds,
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Which makes him seem much wiser than a Goose;
For had a Goose, which seems of Simple Kind,
A Shape to form and fit things to her Mind,
To make such Creatures as her would Obey,
Could hunt and shoot those that would 'scape away,
As Wise she'ld seem as Man, be as much Fear'd,
And when the Goose comes near, the Man be Scar'd.
Who knows, but Beasts may Wiser than Men be?
VVe no such Errours or Mistakes can see;
Like quiet Men they do Injoy their rest,
To Eat and Drink in Peace, they think it best;
Their Food is all they seek, the rest think Vain,
If they not to Eternity remain:
Despise not Beasts, nor yet be proud of Art,
But Nature thank, for Forming so each Part;
And since all Knowledge by your Form you gain,
Then let not Pride above your Reason Reign;
VVhen you find Motion in your Brain works best,
Then slight not Beasts, for being in them Deprest;
Nor Boast of Speech, 'cause Reason it can show,
For Beasts have Reason too, for ought we know:
Shape doth Inform the Mind of what we find,
VVhich being taught, Man's wiser than Beast kind.
| Poems, and phancies | |