 | Miscellany Poems |  |
44
The Athenian Madman.
I
In Athens, once the Nurse of Arms and Arts,Where, Wit and Learning fix'd their seat,
(Sometimes even there doth Folly meet,
For Nature variously her Gifts imparts:)
A Madman dwelt, the Laughter of the Town,
Who every Morning to the Port went down,
And thought all Ships, that enter'd, were his own.
II
The Captains Hail'd, did for the Cockets call;Enquir'd what Riches were on board,
What Merchandizes they had stor'd;
And what mishaps did in their Voyage fall.
Did his commands upon his servants lay;
To various parts the Cargo sent away,
To Merchants all, or storehouse, did convey.
III
Nor was his (so dispis'd) a cursed state;An Innocent Madness him doth seize,
A Frenzy, that his Mind doth please;
And uncontrouled thoughts upon him wait.
He thinks he's Happy and he's therefore so.
Believes he's Rich, and Wealth in Streams do flow:
He hugs the thought, and thence doth blessed grow.
45
IV
How many Men, than he, more raving are,Who are amidst their Treasure poor,
And pine and starve in swelling store,
And might be happy, if they thought they were.
It is not Riches, that Content can win,
The secret we must to our heart resign,
Content lives not without, but dwells within.
V
We all alike do Happiness desire,Yet commonly the Treasure loose:
The Madman doth, what's present choose,
He thinks no farther, nor doth more require.
Fancy makes him, what others fain would grow;
A serious Judgment doth small difference know,
'Twixt being Happy, and 'twixt thinking so.
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