Ambition’s haughty nod,
With fancies may deceive,
Nay, tell thee thou’rt a god,—
And wilt thou such believe?
Go, bid the seas be dry,
Go, hold earth like a ball,
Or throw her fancies by,
For God can do it all.
Dost thou possess the dower
Of laws to spare or kill?
Call it not heav’nly power
When but a tyrant’s will;
Know what a God will do,
And know thyself a fool,
Nor tyrant-like pursue
Where He alone should rule.
Dost think, when wealth is won,
Thy heart has its desire?
Hold ice up to the sun,
And wax before the fire;
Nor triumph o’er the reign
Which they so soon resign;
In this world weigh the gain,
Insurance safe is thine.
Dost think life’s peace secure
In houses and in land?
Go, read the fairy lure
To twist a cord of sand;
Lodge stones upon the sky,
Hold water in a sieve,
Nor give such tales the lie,
And still thine own believe.
Whoso with riches deals,
And thinks peace bought and sold,
Will find them slippery eels,
That slide the firmest hold:
Though sweet as sleep with health,
Thy lulling luck may be,
Pride may o’erstride thy wealth,
And check prosperity.
Dost think that beauty’s power,
Life’s sweetest pleasure gives?
Go, pluck the summer flower,
And see how long it lives:
Behold, the rays glide on,
Along the summer plain,
Ere thou canst say, they’re gone,—
And measure beauty’s reign.
Look on the brightest eye,
Nor teach it to be proud,
But view the clearest sky
And thou shalt find a cloud;
Nor call each face ye meet
An angel’s, ‘cause it’s fair,
But look beneath your feet,
And think of what ye are.
Who thinks that love doth live
In beauty’s tempting show,
Shall find his hopes ungive,
And melt in reason’s thaw;
Who thinks that pleasure lies
In every fairy bower,
Shall oft, to his surprise,
Find poison in the flower.
Dost lawless pleasures grasp?
Judge not thou deal’st in joy;
Its flowers but hide the asp,
Thy revels to destroy:
Who trusts a harlot’s smile,
And by her wiles is led,
Plays with a sword the while,
Hung dropping o’er his head.
Dost doubt my warning song?
Then doubt the sun gives light,
Doubt truth to teach thee wrong,
And wrong alone as right;
And live as lives the knave,
Intrigue’s deceiving guest,
Be tyrant, or be slave,
As suits thy ends the best.