Pia Desideria or, Divine Addresses, In Three Books. Illustrated with XLVII. Copper-Plates. Written in Latin by Herm. Hugo. Englished by Edm. Arwaker ... The Fourth Edition, Corrected |
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 | Pia Desideria |  |
101
V.
O turn away mine Eyes, lest they behold Vanity,
Psal. cxix. 37.
In my high Capitol two Centries still
Keep constant watch, to guard the Citadel:
If fix'd or wandring Stars, I do not know,
Tho' either Epithet becomes them too;
Each from its Duty is in straggling lost,
Yet each maintains immovably its Post;
Both swift of Motion, yet both fix'd remain:
What Sampson this dark Riddle can explain?
Keep constant watch, to guard the Citadel:
If fix'd or wandring Stars, I do not know,
Tho' either Epithet becomes them too;
Each from its Duty is in straggling lost,
Yet each maintains immovably its Post;
Both swift of Motion, yet both fix'd remain:
What Sampson this dark Riddle can explain?
Ev'n You, my Eyes, are these mysterious Stars,
Fix'd in my Head, yet daily Wanderers:
Who plac'd in that exalted Tow'r of mine,
Like Torches in some lofty Pharos shine;
Or like to Watch-men on some rising place,
View every near, and every distant pass.
Yet you to me less constant prove by far,
Than those kind Guides to their Observers are;
Their Favours only with themselves Expire,
Unless the Hand that gave, recalls their Fire.
You, like mad Steeds, too headstrong for the Rein,
Will let no Pow'r your wandring Course restrain:
You, by whose Guidance we shou'd Danger shun,
Betray us to the Rocks on which we run.
Thus wandring Dina, led by your false Light,
Expos'd her Honour, to oblige her Sight.
Thus, while Jessides view'd the bathing Dame,
What cool'd her Heat, kindled in him a Flame.
Thus gazing on the Hebrew Matrons Eyes,
Made the Assyrian's Head her easie Prize.
Thus the fond Elders, by their Sight misled,
Pursu'd the Joys of a forbidden Bed;
Nor cou'd their lustfull Flame be disposset,
Till with a show'r of weighty Stones supprest.
Fix'd in my Head, yet daily Wanderers:
Who plac'd in that exalted Tow'r of mine,
Like Torches in some lofty Pharos shine;
Or like to Watch-men on some rising place,
View every near, and every distant pass.
Yet you to me less constant prove by far,
Than those kind Guides to their Observers are;
102
Unless the Hand that gave, recalls their Fire.
You, like mad Steeds, too headstrong for the Rein,
Will let no Pow'r your wandring Course restrain:
You, by whose Guidance we shou'd Danger shun,
Betray us to the Rocks on which we run.
Thus wandring Dina, led by your false Light,
Expos'd her Honour, to oblige her Sight.
Thus, while Jessides view'd the bathing Dame,
What cool'd her Heat, kindled in him a Flame.
Thus gazing on the Hebrew Matrons Eyes,
Made the Assyrian's Head her easie Prize.
Thus the fond Elders, by their Sight misled,
Pursu'd the Joys of a forbidden Bed;
Nor cou'd their lustfull Flame be disposset,
Till with a show'r of weighty Stones supprest.
More ruin'd Souls by these false Guides are lost,
Than Shipwreck'd Vessels on the Rockiest Coast.
Than Shipwreck'd Vessels on the Rockiest Coast.
Then Happy he, Happy alike and Wise,
Who made a timely Cov'nant with his Eyes!
And Happier he who did his Guards Disband,
Torn from their Posts by his wise fearless Hand!
Who made a timely Cov'nant with his Eyes!
And Happier he who did his Guards Disband,
Torn from their Posts by his wise fearless Hand!
103
So ill, false Centries, you your Charge perform,
You favour the Surprize, that shou'd the Camp allarm.
Did you for this the Capitol obtain?
For this the Charge of the Chief Castle gain?
That you have thus t'inferior Earth betray'd,
Man's lofty Soul, for nobler Objects made?
And do not rather raise his Thoughts on high,
Above the starry Arches of the Sky?
That Theatre will entertain his Sight
With various Scenes of suitable Delight:
But you are more on Earth than Heav'n intent,
And your industrious Search is downward bent.
You favour the Surprize, that shou'd the Camp allarm.
Did you for this the Capitol obtain?
For this the Charge of the Chief Castle gain?
That you have thus t'inferior Earth betray'd,
Man's lofty Soul, for nobler Objects made?
And do not rather raise his Thoughts on high,
Above the starry Arches of the Sky?
That Theatre will entertain his Sight
With various Scenes of suitable Delight:
But you are more on Earth than Heav'n intent,
And your industrious Search is downward bent.
What shall I do, since you unruly grow,
And will no Limits, no Confinement know?
Oh! shut the Wandrer's up in endless Night,
Or with thy Hand, dear God, contract their Sight.
And will no Limits, no Confinement know?
Oh! shut the Wandrer's up in endless Night,
Or with thy Hand, dear God, contract their Sight.
Woe to the blind Eyes that see not Thee, the Sun that enlightens both Heaven and Earth! woe to the dim Eyes that cannot see Thee! wo to them that turn away their Eyes from beholding Truth! woe to them that turn not away their Eyes from beholding Vanity!
Aug. Soliloq. cap. 4.
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