 | Poems Upon Several Occasions |  |
Against Knowledge.
I
If none but Fools which are in Errour blest,Can truly here be said to hope for rest;
Why do I then pursue, and try
To read the Volumes of Philosopy?
I say they're gaudy Non-sence all,
And do like Flowers in the Autumn fall;
There is no Knowledge in this World below,
For all we've read, we scarce our selves can know.
II
The thoughtless Man is never wrack'd by Cares,Tho' the Storm rise he entertains no sears,
On any thing he can take hold,
He cares not for the sparkling Gold,
12
So that his Cæsar's Image be on it;
Altho' the Bark's but small, the Bottom's sound,
And tho' he sleeps, she'll never run aground.
III
The Man that did to high rais'd Sence pretend,Confess'd that after all it had no End,
So much deceiv'd, he did repine,
So lavishly he'd spent his time,
Vowing that nothing here below,
Brought so much Sorrow, as this thing to know,
But we, as foolish Gamesters use to do,
Still know the Trick, yet still are cheated too.
IV
The Stagirite who knew all Nature's Laws,Prov'd the first Martyr in this silly Cause;
But thou my Soul, with what thou'st seen
Sit down, ne'er go behind the Screen
Of Nature, for the Cause of things,
T' observe the Motions, and the hidden Springs:
13
Your Time, be sure to spend it all in Love.
| Poems Upon Several Occasions | |