Classic Poem

To my honoured friend Sir Ed. P. Knight .

You'd leave the silence in which safe we are,
 To listen to the noyse of warre;
And walke those rugged paths, the factious tread,
 Who by the number of the dead
Reckon their glories and thinke greatnesse stood
 Vnsafe, till it was built on blood.
Secure ith' wall our Seas and ships provide
 (Abhorring wars so barb'rous pride
And honour bought with slaughter) in content
 Lets breath though humble, innocent.
Folly and madnesse! Since 'tis ods we nere
 See the fresh youth of the next yeare,
Perhaps not the chast morne, her selfe disclose
 Againe, t'out-blush th' æmulous rose.
Why doth ambition so the mind distresse
 To make us scorne what we possesse?
And looke so farre before us? Since all we
 Can hope, is varied misery?
Goe find some whispering shade neare Arne or Poe ,
 And gently 'mong their violets throw
Your wearyed limbs, and see if all those faire
 Enchantments can charme griefe or care?
Our sorrowes still pursue us, and when you
 The ruin'd Capitoll shall view
And statues, a disorder'd heape; you can
 Not cure yet the disease of man,
And banish your owne thoughts. Goe travaile where
 Another Sun and Starres appeare,
And land not toucht by any covetous fleet,
 And yet even there your selfe youle meet.
Stay here then, and while curious exiles find
 New toyes for a fantastique mind;
Enjoy at home what's reall: here the Spring
 By her aeriall quires doth sing
As sweetly to you as if you were laid
 Vnder the learn'd Thessalian shade,
Direct your eye-sight inward, and you'le find
 A thousand regions in your mind
Yet undiscover'd. Travell them, and be
 Expert in home Cosmographie.
This you may doe safe both from rocke and shelfe:
 Man's a whole world within himselfe.

To my honoured friend Sir Ed. P. Knight .

You'd leave the silence in which safe we are,
 To listen to the noyse of warre;
And walke those rugged paths, the factious tread,
 Who by the number of the dead
Reckon their glories and thinke greatnesse stood
 Vnsafe, till it was built on blood.
Secure ith' wall our Seas and ships provide
 (Abhorring wars so barb'rous pride
And honour bought with slaughter) in content
 Lets breath though humble, innocent.
Folly and madnesse! Since 'tis ods we nere
 See the fresh youth of the next yeare,
Perhaps not the chast morne, her selfe disclose
 Againe, t'out-blush th' æmulous rose.
Why doth ambition so the mind distresse
 To make us scorne what we possesse?
And looke so farre before us? Since all we
 Can hope, is varied misery?
Goe find some whispering shade neare Arne or Poe ,
 And gently 'mong their violets throw
Your wearyed limbs, and see if all those faire
 Enchantments can charme griefe or care?
Our sorrowes still pursue us, and when you
 The ruin'd Capitoll shall view
And statues, a disorder'd heape; you can
 Not cure yet the disease of man,
And banish your owne thoughts. Goe travaile where
 Another Sun and Starres appeare,
And land not toucht by any covetous fleet,
 And yet even there your selfe youle meet.
Stay here then, and while curious exiles find
 New toyes for a fantastique mind;
Enjoy at home what's reall: here the Spring
 By her aeriall quires doth sing
As sweetly to you as if you were laid
 Vnder the learn'd Thessalian shade,
Direct your eye-sight inward, and you'le find
 A thousand regions in your mind
Yet undiscover'd. Travell them, and be
 Expert in home Cosmographie.
This you may doe safe both from rocke and shelfe:
 Man's a whole world within himselfe.