Lyric Poems Made in Imitation of the Italians. Of which, many are Translations From other Languages ... By Philip Ayres |
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'Tis hard to follow Vertue.
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 | Lyric Poems |  |
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'Tis hard to follow Vertue.
I Rais'd sometimes my Thoughts and fixt them right,
Where Vertue, and where Glory did invite,
And in the Steps of Few, and Best, have trod,
Scorning to take the Vulgar, Beaten Road.
Where Vertue, and where Glory did invite,
And in the Steps of Few, and Best, have trod,
Scorning to take the Vulgar, Beaten Road.
But him who aims at Glory they deride,
He's one 'gainst most, and worst must stemm the Tide;
Since now on sordid Wealth, this Age so blind,
As on its Chiefest Good has fixt its Mind:
He's one 'gainst most, and worst must stemm the Tide;
Since now on sordid Wealth, this Age so blind,
As on its Chiefest Good has fixt its Mind:
For the Great Things, the World has in its Hand,
Are Gold and Silver, Jewels, and Command;
These are the Gifts, which Fortune does dispence,
And may be got by Theft, and Violence.
Are Gold and Silver, Jewels, and Command;
These are the Gifts, which Fortune does dispence,
And may be got by Theft, and Violence.
Yet from this Lethargy thô I arise,
And shake the Clouds of Error from my Eyes;
Reject the wrong, and Right to chuse begin,
Than change my Course, I sooner can my Skin.
And shake the Clouds of Error from my Eyes;
Reject the wrong, and Right to chuse begin,
Than change my Course, I sooner can my Skin.
| Lyric Poems | |