Classic Poem

O GREATNESSE what great Good dost thou containe,
I allure the Will to bee in loue with thee?
Ist souraigne-Good to bee a Soueraigne
When high'st Degree of Ills threats that Degree?
Who buyes a Crowne with neuer-ending Care
Buyes Gold too deere by al that Life is worth:
For, Care doth nought but Life to Death prepare,
Yet vnprepard to meet Death flieth foorth:
For Kingdoms Cares so many are and great
That they constraine the Thought but them to mind:
That though vntimely Death they do beget,
Yet Thought [though free] from thought thereof they bind!
Then, ├┤ my Soule, poore Soule! ritch in Conceit,
Which dost conceiue Kings glittering misery
To be (as tis) false pomp, true perils Baite,
Suffice thee still with meere Sufficiency,
Make me as well content to be the least
As others are well pleasd the Greatst to be;
Sith Man in honor liues, and dies a Beast:
For Men proue oft base Beasts in high degree
Let mine ambition reach but to Content,
And that Content reach but the Mean to touch:
Thats All, sith its omni-sufficient
More meet for richest Mynds then more then Much:
There may I sitt by Vertues surest side,
(For in the Meane shee doth hir selfe install)
Secure from wrack, while those that Scepters guide
Do find no meane betweene their Rise, and Fail
Where I may, all vnseene, see all the rest
Of this Worlds Reuolutions; and make vse
Of Best, and Worst, discrectly for my best,
And store my Mind with Matter for my Muse:
Like a Spectator that doth sitt at ease
Secure vpon the Shore, and thence doth see
How others are neere sincking on the Seas
In ceaselesse Stormes that full of danger bee:
Or like a looker on a Tragedie
Within the Middle Roome, among the Meane.
I see the fall of State and Maiesty
While mongst the Presse t'a Piller sure I leane:
So see I others sorrowes with delight
Though others sorrowes do but make me sadd:
But plagues to see, which on our selues might light
Free from their fall, makes Nature, grieuing, gladd
Where while I see some Phacton striue to guide
The Sunne of Souraigntie, I see him set
All, in Combustion; so dissolues through pride
All Mouers causing his Ambitions heate
Where I may see but late-Court-Minions
Liue like to Spunge [hard squizd] aliue, and dead
Through change of Kings, or Kings opinions:
For, when their Heads fall off, off falls their Head
Or if they find more grace in Fortunes Frownes
To liue (as in an Hell) a liuing Death,
That well may chronicle what holds in Crownes,
Which turne about (like Fanes) cun with a Breath
There may I Nobles see vnnobly striue
Who shall be greatst in grace, for want of grace,
Who by the damage of each other thriue
And grace themselues beach other great disgrace.
While (vnperceaud) I laugh to see how they
(Like Fiends) each other restlestly torment,
And, blesse my state that on their Plagues may play
In my Minds mirry Kingdome of CONTENT
In few, there may I see how all Estates
That lifted are aboue the myrry Meane,
Do, falling stand twixt Dangers and Debates,
Whiles of their Falls I make a swelling Sceane
So that this World, the Sea of Misery,
Becomes my Helicon, and Streames affords,
To make my Muse to flow, stil swelling hie.
In matter far aboue the reache of Words.
Then, you, that, shouldering buckle for the best
Holding the Meane [the best of all] the worst:
Rest you, or else my Muse shall neuer rest
To make your States, and Strifs lothd as accurst.
And you, ├┤ you vnpassiond peacefull Harts
That with me liue secure in meane estate,
Be ioyfull though you play but simple Parts,
Ye simply play the best, blithst, freest from hate
And though these great Ones scorne our Case, and Cote
Let vs laugh at them sith we know they dote.