Malvern Hills with Minor Poems, and Essays. By Joseph Cottle. Fourth Edition |
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THE SPIDER's WEB. |
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THE SPIDER's WEB.
NOT Spiders only build the Web,
We rear our flimsy structures too;
Our follies, tide-like, rise, and ebb,
And vanities we all pursue.
We rear our flimsy structures too;
Our follies, tide-like, rise, and ebb,
And vanities we all pursue.
Some, in their fancies, buy and sell,
And count their profits with amaze!
While some in wishing-webs excel,
And many a gaudy fabric raise.
And count their profits with amaze!
While some in wishing-webs excel,
And many a gaudy fabric raise.
Some, Fortune's airy levees throng,
And court her smile, or dread her frown,
And weave their webs, in dreaming long,
Of worldly honours, and renown.
And court her smile, or dread her frown,
And weave their webs, in dreaming long,
Of worldly honours, and renown.
Some, with “Accomplishments Divine,”
Their children stuff till “Help” they call;
So artificial, prim, and fine,
When principle is worth it all.
Their children stuff till “Help” they call;
So artificial, prim, and fine,
When principle is worth it all.
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Some, build the web of lengthen'd life,
And form the age-extended plan;
Forgetful of the toil and strife
That oft, untimely, withers man.
And form the age-extended plan;
Forgetful of the toil and strife
That oft, untimely, withers man.
Some, spin a mighty web indeed,
By thinking once, instead of twice;
They build a house as years recede,
When six by two will soon suffice.
By thinking once, instead of twice;
They build a house as years recede,
When six by two will soon suffice.
Some, weave the webs that only suit
This little inch of time below;
And waste each rapturous pursuit,
On objects, fleeting as the snow.
This little inch of time below;
And waste each rapturous pursuit,
On objects, fleeting as the snow.
While some, each Spider's web abjure,
And prize the permanent delight;
They build the webs that will endure,
And seek—“the country out of sight.”
And prize the permanent delight;
They build the webs that will endure,
And seek—“the country out of sight.”
In foresight, some are little skill'd,
Therefore their hearts with folly chime;
But the worst webs are those which build,
Not on Eternity, but Time!
Therefore their hearts with folly chime;
But the worst webs are those which build,
Not on Eternity, but Time!
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