Then Sin combin'd with Death in a firm band, Which they effected-none could them withstand; VANITY. THE fleet astronomer can bore, And thread the spheres with his quick-piercing mind: He views their stations, walks from door to door, Surveys, as if he had design'd To make a purchase there : he sees their dances; And knoweth, long before, Both their full-eyed aspects, and secret glances. The nimble diver with his side Cuts through the working waves, that he may fetch His dearly-earned pearl, which God did hide On purpose from the venturous wretch; That he might save his life, and also hers, Who with excessive pride Her own destruction and his dangers wears. The subtle chymic can divest To ordinary suitors at the door. What hath not man sought out and found, But his dear God? who yet his glorious law Embosoms in us, mellowing the ground With showers and frost, with love and awe; So that we need not say, Where's this command ?Poor man! thou searchest round To find out Death, but missest Life at hand. VIRTUE. SWEET day! So cool, so calm, so bright, Sweet rose! whose hue, angry and brave, And thou must die. Sweet spring! full of sweet days and roses, Only a sweet and virtuous soul, Like season'd timber, never gives; But though the whole world turn to a coal, I KNOW the THE PEARL.-MATT. XIII. ways of learning; both the head And pipes that feed the press, and make it run; What reason hath from nature borrowed, Or of itself, like a good housewife, spun I know the ways of honour, what maintains I know the ways of pleasure, the sweet strains, The propositions of hot blood and brains; What mirth and music mean; what love and wit My stuff is flesh, not brass; my senses live, I know all these, and have them in my hand. Both the main sale, and the commodities; MAN. My God, I heard this day, That none doth build a stately habitation, What house more stately hath there been, For man is ev'ry thing, And more: he is a tree, yet bears no fruit; Man is all symmetry, Full of proportions, one limb to another, Each part may call the furthest brother: Nothing hath got so far, But man hath caught and kept it, as his prey. Herbs gladly cure our flesh, because that they For us the winds do blow; The earth doth rest, heav'n move, and fountains flow. As our delight, or as our treasure: The stars have us to bed; Night draws the curtain, which the sun withdraws : All things unto our flesh are kind Each thing is full of duty: Waters united are our navigation; Distinguished, our habitation; Below, our drink; above, our meat: Both are our cleanliness. Hath one such beauty? Then how are all things neat! More servants wait on man, Than he'll take notice of: in every path He treads down that which doth befriend him, Oh mighty love! Man is one world, and hath |