The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont ... Edited from the autograph manuscript with introduction and notes by Eloise Robinson |
 |
 |
Selflove
|
 | The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont |  |
436
Selflove
June 5.
1
To Love thy neighbour as thy self, will proveThe Summ of Virtue; yet Selflove
The total is of Vice.
Unhappy riddle this,
That thine own Rule should perfect be
To all the World besides, but not to thee.
2
When self-conceited Lucifer so highDid soar on wings of Philauty,
The foolish Gallant fell
As low as lowest hell.
Corrupted Good's the worst of Evil:
As God is Love himself, Selflove's a Devil.
3
No Hate's so dangerous as Selflove, by whichWe ask our own selvs to death bewitch.
Ask but Narcissus what
Inchanted him to that
Dainty, but deadly fate, & He
Will answer, 'Twas Selflove which drowned Me.
437
4
Do's not thy sober indignation riseAgainst false-hearted Flatteries
Which only tickle thee
Into a Fallacie?
How dar'st thou then take such delight
In being thine own constant Parasite?
5
Would'st love thyself indeed? come then & throwThy hate at what thou lovest now.
'Tis not thy Self, but thy
Passions & Lusts which ly
In thy loves arms; all other Foes
God bids thee love, I grant, but never those.
6
Thy Soule's thy Self, & what thy God did make;Not what thy Sinns: Mend that Mistake,
And then Selflove will be
Ev'n Virtues self to thee.
Thy riddle then will cease, and thou
By Self-loves rule mayst charity bestow.
| The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont | |