Classic Poem

Thou much lov'd cause of all the toyles
That wait on life,
Mettle whose yellow splendour smiles
Worlds into strife,
More sharp more deadly, of lesse worth
Then is the steel that digs thee forth.

Fool that he was who took the pains
To loose thy bands
Sifting the Earths discolour'd vains,
The Waters sands,
And freed thee from thy prison, where
Confin'd by pious Natures care.

A swarm of Furies came along
From Hell with thee,
Deceit, Ambition, Envy, Wrong,
Hate, Crueltie,
And that unsatiable thirst
Which where most cherish'd rageth worst.

For thee the Oceans ancient peace
The first ship broke,
And on the Empire of the Seas
Impos'd a yoke;
Boreas with pride the Pine beheld
That scorn'd his breath to court it fell'd.

Churlish dissentions flattring Sire
Who love untiest,
Distracted Kingdoms sets on fire,
And concord flyest,
The Plunderer thou mak'st thy prey
The thief steal'st from himself away.

With Gold love heads the surest Dart
His Quiver bears;
Which in the coldest womans heart,
Impression wears:
Their flinty bosomes never dread,
The arrow that is tipt with lead.

You richest treasures Nature owns
Can you refuse,
The noblest of affections
The meanest choose?
Why seek you gems and gold? there are
Gems in your eyes, gold in your hair.

Worth it derives from our esteem,
Thought onely bright
By darkned judgements, yet though dim,
Dazles our sight,
More then the Planet of the day,
To whom he owes his sickly ray.

Happy those men who free from want,
The earth possest,
Of wealth yet wisely ignorant,
As that of Rest:
They Poverty their Treasure priz'd;
And Gold the golden age despis'd.

He that to Heaven would take his way,
Ere he begin,
Must down this glitt'ring burthen lay,
This bait of sin,
Or its oppressive earthly weight
Will clog his wings, and check his flight.