Poem by Thomas Urquhart

Epigrams. The Second Booke. ¹ 35. How deplorable the condition of most men is, who, though they attaine to the fruition of their praete∣rit projects, by covering neverthelesse the possession of future pleasures, honours, and commodities, never receive con∣tentment (is they ought) in the present time

IN things, to fortune Subject, when we get
What we did long for, we anew desire
To have wherewith t'uphold the former state:
Which likewise, we obtaining, more require;
For businesse engendreth businesse:
And hope, being th'usher of another hope,
Our enjoyd' wishes serve but to make place
To after aimes, whose purchase to the top
Of our ambition never reacheth; thus
By still aspiring higher we can find
No end in miseries, that trouble us:
Turmoyle the body: and perplex our mind,
Although we change with great varietie
The matter, which procures our miserie.

1. Epigrams. The First Booke. ¹ 23. A counsell not to vse severity, where gentle dealing may prevaile
2. Epigrams. The Third Booke. ¹ 17. VVhy we must all dye
3. Epigrams. The First Booke. ¹ 26. How to support the contumelie of defamatorie speeches
4. Epigrams. The First Booke. ¹ 5. The wise, and noble resolution of a truly couragious, and devout spirit, towards the absolute danting of those irregular affections, and inward perturbations, which readily might happen to impede the current of his sanctified designes: and oppose his already ini∣tiated progresse, in the divinely proposed course of a vertuous, and holy life
5. Epigrams. The First Booke. ¹ 18. Not time, but our actions, are the true measure of our life

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