Classic Poem

When thou seest any honour'd by the king,
Oppose thou this, thou thirsts for no such thing.
When thou seest any rich, see what in sted
Of those his riches thou hast purchased.
If nothing, nothing fits such idle wretches.
If thou hast that, that makes thee need no riches,
Know thou hast more, and of a greater price,
And that which is to God a sacrifice.
When thou seest one linkt with a louely wife,
Thou canst containe, and leade a single life.
Seeme these things smal to thee? O how much more
Do euen those great ones, and those men of store
Desire those small things, then their greatest owne:
That they could scorn their states so bladder-blown,
Their riches, and euen those delicious Dames,
That feast their blood with such enchanted flames?
For haue not yet thy wits the difference found,
Betwixt a feu'rie mans thirst, and one sound?
He hauing drunke is pleasd: the other lies
Fretting and lothing, vomits out his eyes:
His drinke to choler turnes, and ten parts more
His vicious heate inflames him, then before.
So while the long fit of his drie desire
Lasts in a rich man, such insatiate fire
He feeles within him. While the like fit lasts
In one ambitious, so he thirsts, and wasts.
While the fit lasts, and lust hath any fewell;
So fares the fond venerean with his iewell,
There being linkt to euery one of these
Feares, emulations, sleeplesse Ielosies,
Foule cogitations, foule words, fouler deeds.
Enough be that then, that may serue thy needs,
What thou canst keepe in thy free powre alone,
Others affect, and thou reiect'st thine owne.
Both will not draw in one yoke: one release
And th'other vse, or neither keepe in peace
Twixt both distracted. Things within thee prise:
Onely within, thy helpe and ruine lies.
What wall so fencefull? what possession
So constant, and so properly our owne?
What dignitie so expert of deceipts?
All trade-like beggarly, and full of sleights.
On which who sets his mind, is sure to grieue,
Feed on faint hopes, neuer his ends atcheeue,
Fall into that he shuns, and neuer rest,
But bad esteeme his state, when tis at best.
Serue but thy minde with obiects fit for her,
And for things outward thou shalt neuer care.
Obtaine but her true, and particular vse
And obtaine all things. Nor let doubt, abuse
Thy will to winne her, as being coy enclind,
Nought is so pliant as a humane mind.
And what shall I obtaine, obtaining her,
Not wishing all, but some particular?
What wouldst thou wish for her dowre more then these?
To make thee pleasant, of one hard to please?
To make thee modest, of one impudent;
Temperate, and chast, of one incontinent:
Faithfull, being faithlesse. Fit not these thy will?
Affect'st thou greater? What thou dost, do still:
I giue thee ouer, doing all I can,
Th'art past recure, with all that God giues man.