XCI. John Hagthorpe. To Earth. Edward Farr, ed. 1847. Select Poetry, Chiefly Sacred, of the Reign of King James the First

Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of King James the First. 1847.

To Earth

XCI. John Hagthorpe


EARTH, thou art a barren field
Of delight and true contending;
All the pleasures thou dost yeeld
Give but cause of sad lamenting.
Where desires	5
Are the fires,
Still our soules tormenting.

Riches, honour, dignitie,
Are the highway to misfortune;
Greatnesse is a lethargie	10
That to death can soon transport one.
To be faire
Causeth care,
Gifts chaste thoughts importune.

To be wittie, quick of tongue,	15
Sorrow to themselves returneth;
To be healthfull, young, and strong,
Feeds the flames where passion burneth.
Yet doe men
Couet them	20
More than what adorneth.

To have friends and louers kind,
That vs round enuiron;
Wife and children, though we find,
These be robes that best attire one;	25
Yet their losse
Is a crosse,
Melting hearts of iron.

To be perfect here, and wise,
Is to know our indiscretions;	30
And our goodnes chiefly lies
In observing our transgressions:
For we dwell
As in hell,
Thrall to bad impressions.	35

Then, alas! why long we so
With lou’d sorrow still to languish?
Is there ought on earth but woe,
Aye renewing cares and anguish?
Where new feares	40
Still appeares,
Darts at vs to brandish.