Poem by Thomas Urquhart

Epigrams. The Second Booke. ¹ 41. How to oppose sinister fate.

IF of misfortune you suppose t'exoner
By any other meanes, then those of vertue,
Your troubled spirit: you bestow upon her
Both your owne skll, and weapons to subvert you;
For that, wherewith you 'magine to resist
Her furie, is already in her hand:
And which she holds extended to your breast,
To make you plyable to her command:
It is not then great friends, Nobilitie,
Health, beauty, strength, nor store of worldly treasure,
That can preserve you from her blowes; for the
Of all those things disposeth at her pleasure:
But you, your selfe must furnish with such armes,
As may defend you against vice, and sin:
And so you shall not need to feare her harmes:
For being so warded, you are happy in
The tumults of the world: and she unable
With all her might, to make you miserable.

1. Epigrams. The First Booke. ¹ 41. Concerning those, who marry for beauty, and wealth without regard of vertue
2. Epigrams. The Second Booke. ¹ 13. What the subject of your conference ought to be with men of judgment, and account
3. Epigrams. The First Booke. ¹ 42. The speech of a noble spirit to his adversary, whom af∣ter he had defeated, he acknowledgeth to be nothing in∣feriour to himselfe in worth, wit, or valour, thereby insinuating that a wise man cannot properly bee subdued: though he be orthrown in body, and worldly commodities
4. Epigrams. The Second Booke. ¹ 19. What is not vertuously acquired, if acquired by vs, is not properly ours
5. Epigrams. The Third Booke. ¹ 17. VVhy we must all dye

Print

1218 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version