John Clare: The Midsummer Cushion :: :: University of Virginia Library

What are lifes joys & gains
What pleasures crowd its ways
That man should take such pains
To seek them all his days
Sift this untoward strife
On which thy mind is bent
See if this chaff of life
Is worth the trouble spent

Is pride thy hearts desire
Is power thy climbing aim
Is love thy follys fire
Is wealth thy restless game
Pride power love wealth & all
Times touchstone shall destroy
& like base coin prove all
Vain substitutes for joy

Dost think that pride exalts
Thyself in others eyes
& hides thy follys faults
Which reason will despise
Dost strut & turn & stride
Like walking weathercocks
The shadow by thy side
Becomes thy ape & mocks

Dost think that powers disguise
Can make thee mighty seem
It may in follys eyes
But not in worths esteem
When all that thou canst ask
& all that she can give
Is but a paltry mask
Which tyrants wear & live

Go let thy fancys range
& ramble where they may
View power in every change
& what is its display

—The country magistrate
The meanest shade in power
To rulers of the state
The meteors of an hour—

View all & mark the end
Of every proud extreme
Where flattery turns a friend
& counterfiets esteem
Where worth is aped in show
That doth her name purloin
Like toys of golden glow
Thats sold for copper coin

Ambitions haughty nod
With fancys may decieve
Nay tell thee thourt a God
& wilt thou such believe
—Go bid the seas be dry
Go hold earth like a ball
Or throw thy fancys bye
For God can do it all

Dost thou possess the dower
Of laws to spare or kill
Call it not heavenly power
When but a tyrants will
Know what a God will do
& know thyself a fool
Nor tyrant like pursue
Where he alone should rule

O put away thy pride
Or be ashamed of power
That cannot turn aside
The breeze that waves a flower
Or bid the clouds be still
Though shadows they can brave
Thy poor power mocking will
Then make not man a slave

Dost think when wealth is won
Thy heart has its desire
Hold ice up to the sun

& wax before the fire
Nor triumph oer the reign
Which they so soon resign
In this worlds ways they gain
Insurance safe as thine

Dost think lifes peace secure
In houses & in land
Go read the fairey lure
To twist a chord of sand
Lodge stones upon the sky
Hold water in a sieve
Nor give such tales the lie
& still thine own believe

Whoso with riches deals
& thinks peace bought & sold
Will find them slippery eels
That slide the firmest [h]old
Though sweet as sleep with health
Thy lulling luck may be
Pride may oerstride thy wealth
& check prosperity

Dost think that beautys power
Lifes sweetest pleasure gives
Go pluck the summer flower
& see how long it lives
Behold the rays glide on
Along the summer plain
Ere thou canst say “theyre gone”
& measure beautys reign

Look on the brightest eye
Nor teach it to be proud
But view the clearest sky
& thou shalt find a cloud
Nor call each face ye meet
An angels cause its fair
But look beneath your feet
& think of what they are

Who thinks that love doth live
In beautys tempting show

Shall find his hopes ungive
& melt in reasons thaw
Who thinks that pleasure lies
In every fairey bower
Shall oft to his suprise
Find poison in the flower

Dost lawless pleasures grasp
Judge not thou dealst in joy
Its flowers but hide the asp
Thy revels to destroy
Who trusts an harlots smiles
& by her wiles are led
Plays with a sword the while
Hung dropping oer his head

Dost doubt my warning song
Then doubt the sun gives light
Doubt truth to teach thee wrong
& wrong alone as right
& live as lives the knave
Intrigues decieving guest
Be tyrant or be slave
As suits thy ends the best

Or pause amid thy toils
For visions won & lost
& count the fancied spoils
If ere they quit the cost
& if they still possess
Thy mind as worthy things
Plat straws with bedlam Bess
& call them diamond rings

Thy follys past advice
Thy hearts already won
Thy falls above all price
So go & be undone
For all who thus prefer
The seeming great for small
Shall make wine vinegar
& sweetest honey gall

Wouldst heed the truths I sing
To profit wherewithall
Clip follys wanton wing
& keep her within call
Ive little else to give
What thou canst easy try
The lesson how to live
Is but to learn to die