Social Commentaries

On Gentry

by Thomas Bancroft fl. 1633–1658

From Two Bookes of Epigrammes, and Epitaphs (1639), Book I

Social Commentaries

I saw once (on a Hill in Wales)
Th'old Herald Time with dusty Scales
Weighing of Gentry, and close by
Stood the blind Goddesse secretly.
Those that were brainelesse, light, and vaine,
Did mount aloft; and those againe
That had their weight of worth, did fall
Low as this earthly Pedestall:
And still as Fortune pleas'd, she made
The Ballance move, and laugh'd, and play'd
Her wanton prankes (too seriously)
Ah ha, are these your tricks? thought I;
Then is the cause by Fortune found,
Why Gallants floate, and Wits are drown'd.

MLA

Bancroft, Thomas. “On Gentry.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bancroft/37/.

Chicago

Bancroft, Thomas. “On Gentry.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bancroft/37/.

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