an Heroick Poem.
151
83.
And yet, though Virtue be as fashion sought,
And now Religion rules by Art's prais'd skill;
Fashion is Virtue's Mimmick, falsly taught,
And Art, but Nature's Ape, which plays her ill.
And yet, though Virtue be as fashion sought,
And now Religion rules by Art's prais'd skill;
Fashion is Virtue's Mimmick, falsly taught,
And Art, but Nature's Ape, which plays her ill.
84.
To this blest House (great Nature's Court) all Courts
Compar'd, are but dark Closets for retreat
Of private Minds, Battels but Childrens sports;
And onely simple good, is solid Great.
To this blest House (great Nature's Court) all Courts
Compar'd, are but dark Closets for retreat
Of private Minds, Battels but Childrens sports;
And onely simple good, is solid Great.
85.
Let not the Mind, thus freed from Errour's Night,
(Since you repriev'd my Body from the Grave)
Perish for being how in love with light,
But let your Virtue, Virtue's Lover save.
Let not the Mind, thus freed from Errour's Night,
(Since you repriev'd my Body from the Grave)
Perish for being how in love with light,
But let your Virtue, Virtue's Lover save.
86.
Birtha I love; and who loves wisely so,
Steps far tow'rds all which Virtue can attain;
But if we perish, when tow'rds Heav'n we go,
Then have I learnt that Virtue is in vain.
Birtha I love; and who loves wisely so,
Steps far tow'rds all which Virtue can attain;
But if we perish, when tow'rds Heav'n we go,
Then have I learnt that Virtue is in vain.
87.
And now his Heart (extracted through his Eyes
In Love's Elixar, Tears) does soon subdue
Old Astragon; whose pitie, though made wise
With Love's false Essences, likes these as true.
And now his Heart (extracted through his Eyes
In Love's Elixar, Tears) does soon subdue
Old Astragon; whose pitie, though made wise
With Love's false Essences, likes these as true.
88.
The Duke he to a secret Bowr does lead,
Where he his Youths first Storie may attend;
To guesse, ere he will let his love proceed;
By such a dawning, how his day will end.
The Duke he to a secret Bowr does lead,
Where he his Youths first Storie may attend;
To guesse, ere he will let his love proceed;
By such a dawning, how his day will end.
89.
For Virtue, though a rarely planted Flow'r,
Was in the seed now by this Florist known;
Who could foretel, even in springing hour,
What colours she shall wear when fully blown.
For Virtue, though a rarely planted Flow'r,
Was in the seed now by this Florist known;
Who could foretel, even in springing hour,
What colours she shall wear when fully blown.
CANTO
