Poem by Thomas Urquhart

Epigrams. The Third Booke. ¹ 19. The Parallel of Nature, and For∣tune

A Fly, which is a despicable creature
Obtaines, beside her wings, six feet from Nature:
Yet foure feet onely, she is pleas'd to grant
To the huge body of an Elephant:
So Fortune doth withdraw her gifts from some,
Whose real worth surpasseth theirs, on whom
She hath bestowed them, as forcibly,
As Elephants in strenth exceed a fly.

1. Epigrams. The Second Booke. ¹ 24. No man should glory too much in the flourishing verdure of his Youth
2. Epigrams. The First Booke. ¹ 24. That they may be alike rich, who are not alike abun∣dantly stored with worldly commodities
3. Epigrams. The Second Booke. ¹ 23. We ought not to regard the contumelies, and calumnies of Lyars, and profane men
4. Epigrams. The Third Booke. ¹ 5. A certaine ancient philosopher did hereby insi∣nuate, how necessary a thing the administrati∣on of iustice was: and to be alwaies vigilant in the judicious di∣stribution of punishment, and recompence
5. Epigrams. The First Booke. ¹ 30. That wise men, to speak properly, are the most powerfull men in the world

Print

1388 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version