Classic Poem

So when an hasty vigour doth disclose
An early flame in the more forward Rose,
That Rarenesse doth destroy it: Wonders owe
This to themselves still, that they cannot grow.
Such Ripenesse was His Fate: Thus to appeare
At first, was not hereafter to stay here.
Who thither first steps, whither others tend,
When He sets forth is at the Iourney's end.
But as Short things most vigour have, and we
Find Force the Recompence of Brevity;
So was it here: Compactednesse gave Strength,
The Life was Close, though not spun out at Length.
Nothing lay idle in't: Experience Rules,
Men strengthn'd Books, & Cities season'd Schools.
Nor did he issue forth to come Home thence
(As some) lesse Man, then they goe out from hence:
Who think new Ayre new Vices may create,
And stamp Sinne Lawful in Another State;
Who make Exotick Customes Native Arts,
And Loose Italian Vices English Parts:
He naturaliz'd Perfections only; gain'd
A round and solid mind, severely train'd,
And manag'd his desires; brought oft checkt Sense
Unto the sway of Reason, comming thence
His owne acquaintance, morgag'd unto none,
But was himselfe His owne possession.
Thus starres by journying still, gaine, and dispense.
Drawing at once, and shedding influence:
Thus Spheares by Regular Motion doe encrease
Their Tunes, and bring their Discords into Peace.
Hence knew He his owne value, ne're put forth
Honour for Merit; Pow'r instead of Worth:
Nor, when He poyz'd himselfe, would He prevaile
By Wealth, and make his Mannors turne the scale.
Desert was only ballanc'd; nor could we
Say my Lord's Rents were only Weight, not He:
Only one slight he had; from being Small
Unto himselfe, He came Great unto all:
But Great by no mans Ruine: For who will
Say that his Seat e're made the next Seate ill?
No Neighb'ring-village was unpeopled here
'Cause it durst bound a Noble Eye too neere.
Who could e're say my Lord, and the next Marsh
Made frequent Herriots? or that any harsh
Oppressive usage made Young Lives soone fall?
Or who could His seven thousand bad Ayre call?
He blessings shed: Men knew not to whom more,
The Sun, or Him, they might impute their store.
No rude exaction, or licentious times
Made his Revenewes Others, or His Crimes:
Nor are his Legacies poore-mens present teares,
Or doe they for the future raise their feares.
No such contrivance here as to professe
Bounty, and with Large Miseries feed the Lesse;
Fat some with their owne almes; bestow, and pill;
And Common Hungers with Great Famines fill,
Making an Hundred Wretches endow Tenne,
Taking the Field, and giving a Sheafe then:
As Robbers, whom they spoile, perhaps will lend
Small summes to helpe them to their journey's end.
All was untainted here, and th'Author such,
That every gift from Him grew twice as much.
We, who erewhile did boast his presence, doe
Now boast a second grace, his bounty too;
Bounty, was judgment here; for he bestowes
Not who disperseth, but who gives and knowes.
And what more wise designe, then to renew,
And dresse the brest, from which he knowledge drew!
Thus pious men, ere their departure, first
Would crown the fountain which had quencht their thirst.
Hence strive we all his memory to engrosse,
Our Common Love before, but now Our Losse.