Classic Poem

ODE XXXIX

1

Never to be at Ease; never to rest;
What brest
Is strong enough? what braine? if it were double,
Could beare unmoved, the assaults of soe much trouble?
Tost on the wave of Chance,
I loose my better Selfe;
Where Ignorance
Cast up a Shelfe,
To ruine all my vertue; I forgot
My manhood, and the Treasure which I putt,
A Sure
And constant rescue, from all hands impure.

2

Taught by Example, and the precepts, which
From rich
Antiquitie I gathered; I was made
Fortune-proofe in her Malice; not afraide
To cope with Danger, in
All Formes, She could put on.
But lost within
Opinion,
I was surprised; and ere I could collect
Dispersed notions, by an indirect
Strange way,
Passion prevailed. I knew not what to Say.

3

Fortified in my Reason, once I thought
(But nought
Availes our owne Surmises) that the power
Of fortune could not Storme me. Ah, noe more
Let womans Son be proud
In his owne brest, or braine;
For soe I stood,
To entertaine
All hazard unappall'd; and had within
As great a Force, as full a Magazin,
As might
Have flattered you, to the Same oversight.

*****

Man is not Strong at all, nor wise; nor Fitt
His owne to manage, with his proper witt;
Then least, when borne by Selfe-opinion,
Hee Stops the Light, and wanders in his owne
Darke Principles and notions; hee attains
Nearest Perfection, who his owne restrain's.