Читать книгу A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne - George Wither - Страница 22

Table of Contents

Illvstr. XII. Book. 1.

THrice happy is that Man whose Thoughts doe reare

His Minde above that pitch the Worldling flies,

And by his Contemplations, hovers where

He viewes things mortall, with unbleared eyes.

What Trifles then doe Villages and Townes

Large Fields or Flockes of fruitfull Cattell seeme?

Nay, what poore things are Miters, Scepters, Crownes,

And all those Glories which Men most esteeme?

Though he that hath among them, his Delight,

Brave things imagines them (because they blinde

With some false Lustre his beguiled sight)

He that's above them, their meane-Worth may finde.

Lord, to that Blessed-Station me convey

Where I may view the World, and view her so,

That I her true Condition may survey;

And all her Imperfections rightly know.

Remember me, that once there was a Day

When thou didst weane me from them with content,

Ev'n when shut up within those Gates I lay

Through which the Plague-inflicting Angel went.

And, let me still remember, that an Houre

Is hourely comming on, wherein I shall

(Though I had all the World within my powre)

Be naked stript, and turned out of all.

But minde me, chiefely, that I never cleave

Too closely to my Selfe; and cause thou me,

Not other Earthly things alone to leave,

But to forsake my Selfe for love of Thee:

That I may say, now I have all things left,

Before that I of all things, am bereft.