Poems By Thomas Carew |
 |
Siste Hospes sive Indigena sive Advena vicissitudinis rerum memor pauca pellege.
|
 |
|
 | Poems |  |
98
Siste Hospes sive Indigena sive Advena vicissitudinis rerum memor pauca pellege.
Reader, when these dumbe stones have told
In borrowed speach, what Guest they hold;
Thou shalt confesse, the vaine pursuit
Of humane Glory yeelds no fruit,
But an untimely Grave. If Fate
Could constant happinesse create,
Her Ministers, Fortune and Worth,
Had here that myracle brought forth;
They fix'd this childe of Honour, where
No roome was left for Hope, or Feare,
Of more, or lesse: so high, so great
His growth was, yet so safe his seate.
Safe in the circle of his Friends:
Safe in his Loyall heart, and ends:
Safe in his native valiant spirit:
By favour safe, and safe by merit;
Safe by the stampe of Nature, which
Did strength, with shape and Grace enrich:
Safe in the cheerefull Curtesies
Of flowing gestures, speach, and eyes:
Safe in his Bounties, which were more
Proportion'd to his mind then store;
Yet, though for vertue he becomes
Involv'd Himselfe in borrowed summes;
Safe in his care, he leaves betray'd
No friend engag'd, no debt unpay'd.
In borrowed speach, what Guest they hold;
Thou shalt confesse, the vaine pursuit
Of humane Glory yeelds no fruit,
But an untimely Grave. If Fate
Could constant happinesse create,
Her Ministers, Fortune and Worth,
Had here that myracle brought forth;
They fix'd this childe of Honour, where
No roome was left for Hope, or Feare,
Of more, or lesse: so high, so great
His growth was, yet so safe his seate.
Safe in the circle of his Friends:
Safe in his Loyall heart, and ends:
Safe in his native valiant spirit:
By favour safe, and safe by merit;
99
Did strength, with shape and Grace enrich:
Safe in the cheerefull Curtesies
Of flowing gestures, speach, and eyes:
Safe in his Bounties, which were more
Proportion'd to his mind then store;
Yet, though for vertue he becomes
Involv'd Himselfe in borrowed summes;
Safe in his care, he leaves betray'd
No friend engag'd, no debt unpay'd.
But though the starres conspire to shower
Vpon one Head th'united power
Of all their Graces, if their dire
Aspects, must other brests inspire
With vicious thoughts, a Murderers knife
May cut (as here) their Darlings life.
Who can be happy then, if Nature must
To make one Happy man, make all men just:
Vpon one Head th'united power
Of all their Graces, if their dire
Aspects, must other brests inspire
With vicious thoughts, a Murderers knife
May cut (as here) their Darlings life.
Who can be happy then, if Nature must
To make one Happy man, make all men just:
| Poems | |