Who noble ends by noble means obtains, Just what you hear you have, and what's unknown In the small circle of our foes or friends; A wit's a feather, and a chief's a rod; An honest man's the noblest work of GOD. Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart : Than Cæsar with a senate at his heels. In parts superior what advantage lies? Tell (for you can) what is it to be wise? 'Tis but to know how little can be known; To see all others faults, and feel our own. Condemn'd in business or in arts to drudge, Without a second, or without a judge: Truths would you teach, or save a sinking land? All fear, none aid you, and few understand. Painful pre-eminence! yourself to view Above life's weakness, and its comforts too. Bring then these blessings to a strict account; Make fair deductions, see to what they 'mount: How much of other each is sure to cost; How each for other oft is wholly lost; How inconsistent greater goods with these; How sometimes life is risq'd, and always ease: Think, and if still these things thy envy call, Say, wouldst thou be the man to whom they fall? To sigh for ribbands if thou art so silly, . Mark how they grace Lord Umbra, or Sir Billy. Is yellow dirt the passion of thy life? Look but on Gripus, or on Gripus' wife. If parts allure thee, think how Bacon shin'd, The wisest, brightest, meanest of mankind; Or ravish'd with the whistling of a name, See Cromwell, damn'd to everlasting fame? If all, united, thy ambition call, From ancient story, learn to scorn them all. There in the rich, the honour'd, fam'd, and great, In hearts of kings, or arms of queens who lay, O wealth ill-fated! which no act of fame 'E'er taught to shine, or sanctified from shame; The only point where human bliss stands still, Never elated, while one man's oppress'd; Never dejected, while another's bless'd; ; See the sole bliss Heav'n could on all bestow! Which who but feels can taste, but thinks can know Yet poor with fortune, and with learning blind, The bad must miss, the good, untaught, will find; Slave to no sect, who takes no private road, But looks through nature up to nature's GOD: Pursues that chain which links th' immense design, Joins heav'n and earth, and mortal and divine; Sees, that no being any bliss can know, But touches some above and some below; Save me alike from foolish pride, At aught thy wisdom has deny'd, Teach me to feel another's woe, Mean though I am, not wholly so, This day, be bread and peace my lot: All else beneath the sun, Thou know'st if best bestow'd or not, And let thy will be done. To thee, whose temple is all space, One chorus let all being raise! |