University of Virginia Library

OF HUMILITY.

[The tow'ring self-sufficient Mind]

The tow'ring self-sufficient Mind
Hastily leaves the World behind;
Like Icarus, does soar too high,
Too near the melting Heat does fly:
It tempts the Dangers it should shun,
And by Presumption is undone:
While such as with a prudent Care,
By small Essays for Flight prepare;
Who raise themselves by slow Degrees,
First only perch upon the Trees,
Or on the Summit of some Hill,
E're they their great Designs fulfil,
There prune their Wings, and thence with Fear
Explore the dusky Atmosphere;
Which having done, they higher rise,
And trembling mount the upper Skies:
Then, more embolden'd, take their Way
Thro' purest Air to brightest Day,
May roam at large in Fields of Light,
And safely leave both Earth and Night.

[They whose Fire does dimly shine]

They whose Fire does dimly shine,
In Smoke hid from themselves remain;
Their Heat cannot their Dross refine,
Nor chase thick Vapours from their Brain:
They think they see, yet still are blind,
Think they alone are blest with Sight.
This, for their Good, has Heav'n design'd,
That they may still enjoy Delight:
For if it should the Vail remove,
They quickly would themselves despise;
From Ignorance proceeds their Love,
In that alone their Dotage lies.

[Reproaches often useful prove]

Reproaches often useful prove,
Malice may be as kind as Love;
No matter what the Bad intend,
If I'm the better, I've my End:
If that I to my self propose,
I shall defeat my greatest Foes.

[Such only those Delights shall share]

Such only those Delights shall share,
Which in Perfection still are there;
Delights too great for us to know,
While we're thus hood-wink'd here below;
While we to Flesh are thus confin'd,
To Flesh, that Darkner of the Mind;
That Medium, which obscures the Light,
That worse than an Egyptian Night:
But when we've thrown this Veil aside,
Dispell'd those Shades, which Day does hide;
When from the Cells in which we lie,
All Thought, to glorious Heights we fly:
We then shall Truths with Clearness see,
Shall then as wise as knowing be;
As finite Intellects can prove,
As much possess, as much shall love,
And all our rapt'rous Hours employ
In highest Extacies of Joy.