32
COWLEY'S POEMS.
Then down I laid my head,
Down on cold earth; and for a while was dead,
And my freed soul to a strange somewhere fled.
Down on cold earth; and for a while was dead,
And my freed soul to a strange somewhere fled.
"Ah, sottish Soul!" said I,
When back to' its cage again I saw it fly;
"Fool, to resume her broken chain,
"And row her galley here again !
"Fool, to that body to return
"Where it condemn'd and destin'd is to burn!
"Once dead, how can it be,
"Death should a thing so pleasant seem to thee,
"That thou shouldst come to live it o'er again in me?"
When back to' its cage again I saw it fly;
"Fool, to resume her broken chain,
"And row her galley here again !
"Fool, to that body to return
"Where it condemn'd and destin'd is to burn!
"Once dead, how can it be,
"Death should a thing so pleasant seem to thee,
"That thou shouldst come to live it o'er again in me?"
THE WISH.
Well then; I now do plainly see
This busy world and I shall ne'er agree;
The very honey of all earthly joy
Does of all meats the soonest cloy;
And they, methinks, deserve my pity,
Who for it can endure the stings,
The crowd, and buz, and murmurings,
Of this great hive, the city.
This busy world and I shall ne'er agree;
The very honey of all earthly joy
Does of all meats the soonest cloy;
And they, methinks, deserve my pity,
Who for it can endure the stings,
The crowd, and buz, and murmurings,
Of this great hive, the city.
Ah, yet, ere I descend to th' grave,
May I a small house and large garden have!
And a few friends, and many books, both true,
Both wise, and both delightful too!
May I a small house and large garden have!
And a few friends, and many books, both true,
Both wise, and both delightful too!
