Classic Poem

O IGNORANT poor man! what dost thou bear
Locked up within the casket of thy breast?
What jewels, and what riches hast thou there!
What heavenly treasure in so weak a chest!

Look in thy soul, and thou shalt beauties find,
Like those which drowned Narcissus in the flood;
Honour and pleasure both are in thy mind,
And all that in the world is counted good.

Think of her worth, and think that God did mean
This worthy mind should worthy things embrace;
Blot not her beauties with thy thoughts unclean,
Nor her dishonour with thy passions base;

Kill not her quickening power with surfeitings,
Mar not her sense with sensuality;
Cast not her serious wit on idle things:
Make not her free-will, slave to vanity.

And when thou think'st of her eternity,
Think not that death against her nature is,
Think it a birth; and when thou goest to die,
Sing like a swan, as if thou went'st to bliss.

And if thou, like a child, didst fear before,
Being in the dark, where thou didst nothing see;
Now I have brought thee torch-light, fear no more;
Now, when thou diest, thou canst not hood-winked be.

And thou, my soul, which turn'st thy curious eye,
To view the beams of thine own form divine;
Know, that thou canst know nothing perfectly,
While thou art clouded with this flesh of mine.

Take heed of over-weening, and compare
Thy peacock's feet with thy gay peacock's train;
Study the best, and highest things that are,
But of thy self an humble thought retain.

Cast down thy self, and only strive to raise
The glory of thy Maker's sacred name;
Use all thy powers that blessed power to praise,
Which gives thee power to be, and use the same.