Desire himself runs out of breath, And, getting, doth but gain his death; And, blind, doth seldom choose the best : But as the cinders of the fire. As ships in ports desired are drowned; The life expires, the woe remains. 30 And yet some poets fain would prove And that Desire is of that kind, No less a passion of the mind, As if wild beasts and men did seek To like, to love, to choose alike. Sir Walter Raleigh. IV LIFE. The World's a bubble, and the Life of Man Less than a span; In his conception wretched; from the womb So to the tomb ; Curst from his cradle, and brought up to years With cares and fears. Who then to frail mortality shall trust, But limns on water, or but writes in dust. 35 5 Yet whilst with sorrow here we live opprest, What life is best? ΙΟ Courts are but only superficial schools To dandle fools: The rural parts are turned into a den And where's a city from foul vice so free, But may be termed the worst of all the three? Domestic cares afflict the husband's bed, Or pains his head: Those that live single, take it for a curse, Or do things worse: 15 Some would have children; those that have them, moan, Or wish them gone: What is it, then, to have, or have no wife, 20 But single thraldom, or a double strife? Our own affections still at home to please 25 To cross the seas to any foreign soil, Peril and toil: Wars with their noise affright us; when they cease, We' are worse in peace : What then remains, but that we still should cry For being born, or, being born, to die? Lord Bacon. 30 V NATURAL COMPARISONS WITH PERFECT LOVE. The lowest trees have tops; the ant her gall; 5 Where rivers smoothest run, deep are the fords; The turtles cannot sing, and yet they love. ΙΟ And if they will reply, Then give them all the lie. Tell Arts they have no soundness, But vary by esteeming; Tell Schools they want profoundness, And stand so much on seeming. If Arts and Schools reply, Give Arts and Schools the lie. Tell Faith it's fled the city; 60 65 70 What is the world? tell, worldling, if thou know it. If it be good, why do all ills o'erflow it? If it be friend, why kills it, as a foe, |