A Collection of Miscellanies Consisting of Poems, Essays, Discourses & Letters, Occasionally Written. By John Norris ... The Second Edition Corrected |
 |
The Curiosity.
|
 | A Collection of Miscellanies |  |
62
The Curiosity.
I
Unhappy state of Mortals here below,Whom unkind Heaven does inspire
With such a constant, strong desire,
And with such slender faculties to know!
And yet we not content to bear the pain
Of thirst unquencht and fruitless Love,
With one more curse our ills improve,
And toil and drudge for what we ne're can gain.
II
With what strange Frenzy are we all possest,Contented Ignorance to refuse,
And by laborious search to lose,
Not the enjoyment only, but our Rest!
Something like Oar does on the surface shine,
We taken with the specious shew,
VVith pains dig in the flattering Mine
But all alas in vain, Truth lies more low.
III
The greatest Knowledge we can ever gainFrom studying Nature, Books or Men,
Serves just t' employ dull hours; but then
It yields less Pleasure than it costs us pain.
Besides, so short and treacherous is our age,
No sooner are we counted VVise,
But envious Death shuts up our eyes,
Just as our part is learnt, we quit the Stage.
63
IV
Could I among the nobler Spirits findOne that would lay aside his State,
And be my kind confederate,
That suddainly I might inrich my mind;
'Twould be some pleasure this, if happy I
Could once at ease sit and survey
And my great victory enjoy,
And (not as now) still labour on and dye.
| A Collection of Miscellanies | |