Et alta a longè cognoscit. DAVID.

TO the cold humble hermitage
(Not tenanted but by discoloured age,
Or youth enfeebled by long prayer
And tame with fasts) th' Almighty doth repaire▪
But from the lofty gilded roofe
Stain'd with some Pagan fiction, keepes a loofe.
Nor the gay Landlord daignes to know
Whose buildings are like Monsters but for show.
Ambition! whither wilt thee climbe,
Knowing thy art, the mooker… of time?
Which by examples tells the high
Rich structures, they must as their owners dye:
And while they stand, their tennants are
Detraction, flatt'ry, wantonnesse, and care,
Pride, envie, arrogance, and doubt,
Surfet, and ease still tortured by the gout.
O rather may I patient dwell
In th' injuries of an ill-cover'd cell!
Gainst whose too weake defence the haile,
The angry winds, and frequent showres prevaile.
Where the swift measures of the day,
Shall be distinguisht onely as I pray:
And some starres solitary light
Be the sole taper to the tedious night▪
The neighbo'ring fountaine (not accurst
Like wine with madnesse) shall allay my thirst:
And the wilde fruites of Nature give
Dyet enough, to let me feele I feele, I live▪
You wantons! who improverish Seas,
And th' ayre dispeople, your proud taste to please!
A greedy tyrant you obey▪
Who varies still its tribu…e with the day.
What interest doth all the vaine
Cunning of surfet to your sences gaine?
Since it obscure the Spirit must
And bow the flesh to sleepe disease or lust.
While who forgetting rest and fare;
Watcheth the fall and rising of each starre,
Ponders how bright the orbes doe move,
And thence how much more bright the heav'ns abov…
Where on the heads of Cherubins
Th' Almightie sits dis…aining our bold sinnes:
Who while on th' earth we gr…veling lye
Dare in our pride of building tempt the skie.