The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont ... Edited from the autograph manuscript with introduction and notes by Eloise Robinson |
Temporall Success
|
1. |
2. |
3. |
The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont | ||
292
Temporall Success
1
Foule beauteous Witch, whose painted faceInchanteth everie place,
How many more Admirers wait on Thee
Then upon Virtu's brave integritie!
2
Let adverse Fortunes but conspireAnd their shortwinded ire
Blow upon noble Job, ye world will swear
The Man's condemned, & Gods breath blew there.
3
With Swains whoe nothing higher knowThen the dull ground they plow,
Ev'n Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, men of high
And famous learning, own this Foolerie.
4
Befooled & inchanted, TheyConclude Job's Virtu's lay
In's Children, Servants, Cattell; Thus, alas,
Uncertain Goods for certain Goodnes pass.
293
5
The sage substantiall Jews were allCaught in this sottish Thrall,
And those that sate in Moses's reverend Chair
Amidst their Gravitie thus Childish were.
6
Yf they great JESUS nayled seeTo his tormenting Tree,
His Case proclaims his equall guilt, say They,
And strait they vote Him a meer Castaway.
7
Was flourishing Dives then (althoughHis whole estate be now
Not worth one Drop of Water,) so sublime
A Saint, bycause in Fullnes He did swimm?
8
And was poor Lazarus a WightPlung'd in a cursed plight,
Bycause in's Flesh as rotten as in's Raggs,
And dressed by no Surgeons but the Doggs?
9
Then, Holy Mahomet, say I,Blest in thy Heresie:
Then the Odrysian Moons right heavnly Hornes
The conquerd Crosses Arms most justly scorns.
10
Then at the Alcorans brave feetOur noble Gospell must submit;
Then are the Turks Heavns Darlings, & the Grand
Seignor henceforth for Prince of Saints must stand.
294
11
Then is ye noble Gold a poorAnd contemtible Ore,
Bycause it must be tri'd & torturd by
The Fornace's incensed Tyrannie.
12
But lazie Lead, or glaring Brass,Bycause they never pass
The trying Rules of such Severitie,
For best of Metalls must admitted be.
13
Then ye fair Roses blushing HueUnto it self is due
Being a wretched shamefull Shrub, bycause
The persecuting horn her Body claws.
14
But Heavn & Shame forbid, that TheyBy such false weights should weigh
Whose Master unto generous Virtue chains
Ten thousand Persecutions & Pains.
15
Those temporall Blessings He can wellBetemm on Sonns of Hell;
Blessings which never bless, but when they be
Tam'd & in order kept by Pietie.
16
But He with Diet course & spareHis Champions doth prepare,
That sound & hardie grown, they stoutlier may
His battels fight, & surer win the day.
295
17
That Day, whose Morning is not drestIn our Aurora's east,
But then shall spring, & shine forever, when
Phebus shall Fall no more to Rise agen.
18
Then, whatsoever Blessings wereBated to Virtue heer,
JESUS shall with immortall Use repay;
Nor will his Saints think much till then to stay.
The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont | ||