The Vanity of all worldly things.*
S he said vanity, so vain say I,
Oh! vanity, O vain all under Sky;
Where is the man can fay, lo I have found
On brittle Earth a Confolation found?
What is't in honour to be fet on high?
No, they like Beafts and Sons of men fhall dye:
And whil'ft they live, how oft doth turn their fate,"
He's now a captive, that was King of late.
What is't in wealth, great Treasures to obtain?«
No, that's but labour, anxious care and pain,
He heaps up riches, and he heaps up forrow,
It's his to day, but who's his heir to morrow?
What then? Content in pleasures canft thou find,
More vain then all, that's but to grafp the wind.
The fenfual fenfes for a time they please,
Mean while the confcience rage, who fhall appease?
What is't in beauty? No that's but a snare,
They're foul enough to day, that once were fair.
What is't in flowring youth, or manly age?
The first is prone to vice, the last to rage.
* See note to page 215.
ca Prince.
Where is it then, in wifdom, learning arts?
Sure if on earth, it must be in thofe parts:
Yet these the wifeft man of men did find
But vanity, vexation of mind.
And he that knowes the moft, doth ftill bemoan
He knows not all that here is to be known.
What is it then, to doe as Stoicks tell,
Nor laugh, nor weep, let things go ill or well.
Such Stoicks are but Stocks fuch teaching vain,
While man is man, he fhall have ease or pain.
If not in honour, beauty, age nor treasure,
Nor yet in learning, wifdome, youth nor pleasure,
Where fhall I climb, found, feek fearch or find
That Summum Bonum which may ftay my mind?
There is a path, no vultures eye hath seen,
Where Lion' fierce, nor lions whelps have been,
Which leads unto that living Crystal Fount,
Who drinks thereof, the world doth nought account
The depth & fea have faid tis not in me,
With pearl and gold, it shall not valued be.
For Saphire, Onix, Topaz who would change:
Its hid from eyes of men, they count it strange.
Death and deftruction the fame hath heard,
But where & what it is, from heaven's declar'd,
It brings to honour, which shall ne‘re" decay,
It ftores with wealth which time can't wear away.
It yieldeth pleafures far beyond conceit,
And truly beautifies without deceit,
Nor ftrength, nor wisdome nor fresh youth shall fade Nor death fhall fee, but are immortal made.
This pearl of price, this tree of life, this fpring
Who is poffeffed of, fhall reign a King.
Nor change of ftate, nor cares fhall ever fee,
But wear his crown unto eternity:
This fatiates the Soul, this ftayes the mind,
And all the reft, but Vanity we find?
The reft's but vanity, and vain we find.
'Hou ill-form'd offspring of my feeble brain,
Who after birth did'ft by my fide remain,
Till fnatcht from thence by friends, lefs wife then true *
Who thee abroad, expos'd to publick view,
Made thee in raggs, halting to th' prefs to trudg,
Where errors were not leffened (all may judg)
At thy return my blushing was not small,
My rambling brat (in print) fhould mother call,
I caft thee by as one unfit for light,
Thy Vifage was fo irksome in my fight;
Yet being mine own, at length affection would
Thy blemishes amend, if fo I could:
I wash'd thy face, but more defects I faw,
And rubbing off a spot, ftill made a flaw.
I ftretcht thy joynts to make thee even feet,
Yet ftill thou run'st more hobling then is meet;
In better dress to trim thee was my mind,
But nought fave home-fpun Cloth, i'th' houfe I find
In this array, 'mongst Vulgars mayft thou roam
In Criticks hands, beware thou doft not come;
* See pages 82-90 and notes.
And take thy way where yet thou art not known,
If for thy Father askt, fay, thou hadst none:
And for thy Mother, she alas is poor,
Which caus'd her thus to fend thee out of door.
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