Читать книгу A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne - George Wither - Страница 21

Table of Contents

Illvstr. XI. Book. 1.

A Massie Mil-stone up a tedious Hill,

With mighty Labour, Sisyphus doth roll;

Which being rais'd-aloft, downe-tumbleth, still,

To keepe imployed his afflicted Soule.

On him, this tedious Labour is impos'd;

And (though in vaine) it must be still assayd:

But, some, by no Necessity inclos'd,

Vpon themselves, such needlesse Taskes have layd.

Yea, knowing not (or caring not to know)

That they are worne and weary'd out in vaine,

They madly toyle to plunge themselves in Woe;

And, seeke uncertaine Ease, in certaine Paine.

Such Fooles are they, who dreame they can acquire

A Minde-content, by Lab'ring still for more:

For, Wealth encreasing, doth encrease Desire,

And makes Contentment lesser then before.

Such Fooles are they, whose Hopes doe vainely stretch

To climbe by Titles, to a happy Height:

For, having gotten one Ambitious-Reach,

Another comes perpetually in sight.

And, their stupidity is nothing lesse,

Who dreame that Flesh and Blood may raysed be

Vp to the Mount of perfect-Holinesse:

For (at our best) corrupt and vile are we.

Yet, we are bound by Faith, with Love and Hope,

To roll the Stone of Good-Endeavour, still,

As neere as may be, to Perfections top,

Though backe againe it tumble downe the Hill.

So; What our Workes had never power to doe,

God's Grace, at last, shall freely bring us to.