The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont ... Edited from the autograph manuscript with introduction and notes by Eloise Robinson |
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House & Home
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 | The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont |  |
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House & Home
What is House, & what is Home,
Where with Freedome Thou hast roome,
And Mayst to all Tyrants say,
This you cannot take away?
Where with Freedome Thou hast roome,
And Mayst to all Tyrants say,
This you cannot take away?
Tis No Thing with Doors & Walls,
Which at every earthquake falls:
No fair Towers, whose Princely fashion
Is but Plunders invitation:
No stout Marble Structure, where
Walls Eternitie doe dare:
No Brasse Gates, no Bars of Steel,
Though Times Teeth they scorne to feel:
Brasse is not so bold as Pride
If on Powers Wings it ride;
Marbles not so hard as Spight
Armd with lawlesse Strength to fight.
Right, & just Possession, be
Potent Names, when Laws stand free:
But if once that Rampart fall,
Stoutest Theeves inherit all:
To be rich & weak's a Sure
And sufficient forfeiture.
Which at every earthquake falls:
No fair Towers, whose Princely fashion
Is but Plunders invitation:
No stout Marble Structure, where
Walls Eternitie doe dare:
No Brasse Gates, no Bars of Steel,
Though Times Teeth they scorne to feel:
Brasse is not so bold as Pride
If on Powers Wings it ride;
Marbles not so hard as Spight
Armd with lawlesse Strength to fight.
Right, & just Possession, be
Potent Names, when Laws stand free:
But if once that Rampart fall,
Stoutest Theeves inherit all:
To be rich & weak's a Sure
And sufficient forfeiture.
Seek no more abroad say I
House & Home, but turne thine eye
Inward, & observe thy Breast;
There alone dwells solid Rest.
Thats a close immured Tower
Which can mock all hostile Power.
To thy selfe a Tenant be,
And inhabit safe & free.
House & Home, but turne thine eye
Inward, & observe thy Breast;
There alone dwells solid Rest.
Thats a close immured Tower
Which can mock all hostile Power.
61
And inhabit safe & free.
Say not that this House is small,
Girt up in a narrow wall;
In a cleanly sober Mind
Heavn it selfe full Room doth find.
The Infinite Creator can
Dwell in it, & may not Man?
Contented heer make thy abode
With thy selfe, & with thy God
Heer, in this sweet Privacie
Maist Thou with thy selfe agree,
And keep House in Peace, though all
The Universes Fabrick fall.
No disaster can distresse Thee:
Nor no furie dispossesse Thee:
Let all war & plunder come,
Still mayst Thou dwell safe at home.
Girt up in a narrow wall;
In a cleanly sober Mind
Heavn it selfe full Room doth find.
The Infinite Creator can
Dwell in it, & may not Man?
Contented heer make thy abode
With thy selfe, & with thy God
Heer, in this sweet Privacie
Maist Thou with thy selfe agree,
And keep House in Peace, though all
The Universes Fabrick fall.
No disaster can distresse Thee:
Nor no furie dispossesse Thee:
Let all war & plunder come,
Still mayst Thou dwell safe at home.
Home is every where to Thee
Who canst thine owne dwelling be.
Yea though ruthlesse Death assaile Thee,
Still thy Lodging will not faile Thee:
Still thy Soule's thine owne, & Shee
To an House remov'd shall be,
An eternall House above
Wall'd, & Roof'd & Pav'd wth Love.
There shall these Mudwalls of thine
Gallantly repair'd outshine
Mortall Starrs: No starrs shall be
In that Heavn, but such as Thee.
Who canst thine owne dwelling be.
Yea though ruthlesse Death assaile Thee,
Still thy Lodging will not faile Thee:
Still thy Soule's thine owne, & Shee
To an House remov'd shall be,
An eternall House above
Wall'd, & Roof'd & Pav'd wth Love.
There shall these Mudwalls of thine
Gallantly repair'd outshine
Mortall Starrs: No starrs shall be
In that Heavn, but such as Thee.
| The Minor Poems of Joseph Beaumont | |