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The Amaranth

Or, religious poems; consisting of fables, visions, emblems, etc. Adorned with copper-plates from the best masters [by Walter Harte]
Harte, Walter (1709-1774)

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CHRIST's PARABLE OF THE SOWER.
  
INTRODUCTION.
  
PARABLE.
  
INTERPRETATION.
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THE ASCETIC,
  
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THE MEDITATION OF THOMAS A KEMPIS.
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CONTENTMENT, INDUSTRY, AND ACQUIESCENCE under the Divine Will:
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THE VISION OF DEATH.
  
INTRODUCTION.
  
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MORAL.
  
THE COURTIER AND PRINCE:
  
THE ENCHANTED REGION:
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EULOGIUS:
  
INTRODUCTION.
  
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MACARIUS:
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BOETIUS:
  
INTRODUCTION.
  
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Religious Melancholy, AN EMBLEMATICAL ELEGY.
  
MEDITATIONS ON CHRIST's Death and Passion.

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19.

Riches no more are ours, than are the waves
Of yonder Rhyne, which our Mount-Agnes laves.
Th'impatient waters no continuance make;
Adopt new owners, and their old forsake.
As those who call for wines, beyond their share,
Refund the draughts which nature cannot bear;
(Whilst bile and gall corroding in their breast
Demand a passage, and admit no rest:)
Just so rapacious misers swell their store;
To di'monds di'monds add, and oar to oar;
44

They gulp down wealth,—and, with heart-piercing pain,
And clay-cold qualms, discharge the load again.
Death bursts the casket, and the farce is o'er;
(Curst is that wealth, which never eas'd the Poor!)
Whilst fools and spend-thrifts sweep it from the floor.
The gold of Ophyr dazzles their weak eyes,
Turquoises next their weaker minds surprize,
Rich, deeply azur'd, like Italian skies.
Then are the fiery rubies to be seen,
And em'ralds tinctur'd with the rain-bow's green:
Translucent beryl , flame-ey'd chrysolite ,
And sardŏnix refresher of the sight;
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With these th'empurpled amethist combines ,
And opaz , vein'd with riv'lets, mildly shines.
All first turns into riot, then to care:—
Whirl'd down th'impetuous torrent, call'd an heir.
 

The name of the monastery where Kempis resided.

Part of this Paragraph, printed in Italics, is copied from Job C. xx, V. 14, 15, 18. Compare also Job C. xxvii, V. 19, 20, 21.

Gold of Ophir. See 1 Kings C. ix, V. 28. 1 Chron. xxix, V. 4. 2 Chron. viii, V. 18. Psalm xlv, V. 9. Isaiah xiii. V. 12.

Turquoises. “The true oriental turquoise comes out of the old rock in the mountains of Piriskua, about eighty miles from the town of Moscheda.” Hist. of Gust. Adolph. Vol. II, p. 342.

Rubies. “Nazarites, more ruddy than rubies.” Lam. C. iv, V. 7.

Emeralds. “A rain-bow in sight like an emerald.” Rev. C. iv, V. 3.

Berryl. Dan. C. x, V. 6. Rev. xxi, V. 20.

Chrysolite. Ezek. C. xxviii.

Sardonyx. Rev. C. xxi, V. 20.

Amethist. Exod. C. xxviii, V. 19. Ibid. C. xxxix, V. 12.

Ezek. C. xxviii, V. 13, and Rev. xxi. V. 20.

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