Lucasta :: :: University of Virginia Library

Frank , wil't live unhandsomely? trust not too far
Thy self to waving Seas, for what thy star
Calculated by sure event must be,
Look in the Classy-epithite and see.

Yet settle here your rest, and take your state,
And in calm Halcyon's nest ev'n build your Fate;
Prethee lye down securely, Frank, and keep
VVith as much no noyse the inconstant Deep
As its Inhabitants; nay stedfast stand,
As if discover'd were a New-found-land
Fit for Plantation here; dream, dream still,
Lull'd in Dione's cradle, dream, untill
Horrour awake your sense, and you now find
Your self a bubled pastime for the VVind;
And in loose Thetis blankets torn and tost,
Frank to undo thy self why art at cost?

Nor be too confident, fix'd on the shore,
For even that too borrows from the store
Of her rich Neighbour, since now wisest know,
(And this to Galileo's judgement ow)
The palsie Earth it self is every jot
As frail, inconstant, waveing as that blot

VVe lay upon the Deep, That sometimes lies
Chang'd, you would think, with's botoms properties
But this eternal strange lxions wheel
Of giddy earth, ne'r whirling leaves to reel
Till all things are inverted, till they are
Turn'd to that Antick confus'd state they were.

VVho loves the golden mean, doth safely want
A cobwebb'd Cot, and wrongs entail'd upon't;
He richly needs a Pallace for to breed
Vipers and Moths, that on their feeder feed.
The toy that we (too true) a Mistress call,
VVhose Looking-glass and feather weighs up all;
And Cloaths which Larks would play with, in the Sun,
That mock him in the Night whens course is run.

To fear an coifice by Art so high
That envy should not reach it with her eye,
Nay with a thought come neer it, would'st thou know
How such a Structure should be raisd? build low.
The blust'ring winds invisible rough stroak,
More often shakes the stubborn'st, prop'rest Oak,
And in proud Turrets we behold withal,
'Tis the Imperial top declines to fall.
Nor does Heav'ns lightning strike the humble Vales
But high aspiring Mounts batters and scales.

A breast of proof defies all Shocks of Fate,
Fears in the best, hopes in the worser state;
Heaven forbid that, as of old, Time ever
Flourish'd in Spring, so contrary, now-never:

That mighty breath which blew foul Winter hither,
Can eas'ly puffe it to a fairer weather.
VVhy dost despair then, Franck, Æolus has
A Zephyrus as well as Boreas.

'Tis a false Sequel, Solœcisme, 'gainst those
Precepts by fortune giv'n us, to suppose
That cause it is now ill, 't will ere be so;
Apollo doth not always bend his Bow;
But oft uncrowned of his Beams divine,
VVith his soft harp awakes the sleeping Nine.

Instrictest things magnanimous appear,
Greater in hope, howere thy fate, then fear:
Draw all your Sails in quickly, though no storm
Threaten your ruine with a sad alarm;
For tell me how they differ, tell me pray,
A cloudy tempest, and a too fair day.