Part 16 (2/2)
METRUM VIII.
That the world in constant force Varies her concordant course; That seeds jarring hot and cold Do the breed perpetual hold; That in his golden coach the sun Brings the rosy day still on; That the moon sways all those lights Which Hesper ushers to dark nights; That alternate tides be found The sea's ambitious waves to bound, Lest o'er the wide earth without end Their fluid empire should extend; All this frame of things that be, Love which rules heaven, land, and sea, Chains, keeps, orders as we see.
This, if the reins he once cast by, All things that now by turns comply Would fall to discord, and this frame Which now by social faith they tame, And comely orders, in that fight And jar of things would perish quite.
This in a holy league of peace Keeps king and people with increase; And in the sacred nuptial bands Ties up chaste hearts with willing hands; And this keeps firm without all doubt Friends by his bright instinct found out.
O happy nation then were you, If love, which doth all things subdue, That rules the s.p.a.cious heav'n, and brings Plenty and peace upon his wings, Might rule you too! and without guile Settle once more this floating isle!
CASIMIRUS, [LYRICORUM] LIB. IV. ODE XXVIII.
Almighty Spirit! Thou that by Set turns and changes from Thy high And glorious throne dost here below Rule all, and all things dost foreknow!
Can those blind plots we here discuss Please Thee, as Thy wise counsels us?
When Thou Thy blessings here doth strow, And pour on earth, we flock and flow, With joyous strife and eager care, Struggling which shall have the best share In Thy rich gifts, just as we see Children about nuts disagree.
Some that a crown have got and foil'd Break it; another sees it spoil'd Ere it is gotten. Thus the world Is all to piecemeals cut, and hurl'd By factious hands. It is a ball Which Fate and force divide 'twixt all The sons of men. But, O good G.o.d!
While these for dust fight, and a clod, Grant that poor I may smile, and be At rest and perfect peace with Thee!
CASIMIRUS, [LYRICORUM] LIB. II. ODE VII.
It would less vex distressed man If Fortune in the same pace ran To ruin him, as he did rise.
But highest States fall in a trice; No great success held ever long; A restless fate afflicts the throng Of kings and commons, and less days Serve to destroy them than to raise.
Good luck smiles once an age, but bad Makes kingdoms in a minute sad, And ev'ry hour of life we drive, Hath o'er us a prerogative.
Then leave--by wild impatience driv'n, And rash resents--to rail at heav'n; Leave an unmanly, weak complaint That death and fate have no restraint.
In the same hour that gave thee breath, Thou hadst ordain'd thy hour of death, But he lives most who here will buy, With a few tears, eternity.
CASIMIRUS, [LYRICORUM] LIB. III. ODE XXII.
Let not thy youth and false delights Cheat thee of life; those heady flights But waste thy time, which posts away Like winds unseen, and swift as they.
Beauty is but mere paint, whose dye With Time's breath will dissolve and fly; 'Tis wax, 'tis water, 'tis a gla.s.s, It melts, breaks, and away doth pa.s.s.
'Tis like a rose which in the dawn The air with gentle breath doth fawn And whisper to, but in the hours Of night is sullied with smart showers.
Life spent is wish'd for but in vain, Nor can past years come back again.
Happy the man, who in this vale Redeems his time, shutting out all Thoughts of the world, whose longing eyes Are ever pilgrims in the skies, That views his bright home, and desires To s.h.i.+ne amongst those glorious fires!
CASIMIRUS, LYRIC[ORUM] LIB. III. ODE XXIII.
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