Читать книгу The Golden Treasury - Unknown - Страница 78

         When God at first made Man,

     Having a glass of blessings standing by;

     Let us (said he) pour on him all we can:

     Let the world's riches, which disperséd lie,

         Contract into a span.

         So strength first made a way;

     Then beauty flow'd, then wisdom, honour, pleasure:

     When almost all was out, God made a stay,

     Perceiving that alone, of all his treasure,

         Rest in the bottom lay.

         For if I should (said he)

     Bestow this jewel also on my creature,

     He would adore My gifts instead of Me,

     And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:

         So both should losers be.

         Yet let him keep the rest,

     But keep them with repining restlessness:

     Let him be rich and weary, that at least,

     If goodness lead him not, yet weariness

         May toss him to my breast.