No More Learning

NOTHING FREE-COST

Nothing comes free-cost here; Jove will not let
His gifts go from him, if not bought with sweat.




175. MAN'S DYING-PLACE UNCERTAIN

Man knows where first he ships himself; but he
Never can tell where shall his landing be.




176. LOSS FROM THE LEAST

Great men by small means oft are overthrown;
He's lord of thy life, who contemns his own.




177. POVERTY AND RICHES

Who with a little cannot be content,
Endures an everlasting punishment.




178. UPON MAN

Man is composed here of a twofold part;
The first of nature, and the next of art;
Art presupposes nature; nature, she
Prepares the way for man's docility.




179. PURPOSES

No wrath of men, or rage of seas,
Can shake a just man's purposes;
No threats of tyrants, or the grim
Visage of them can alter him;
But what he doth at first intend,
That he holds firmly to the end.




180. FOUR THINGS MAKE US HAPPY HERE

Health is the first good lent to men;
A gentle disposition then:
Next, to be rich by no by-ways;
Lastly, with friends t' enjoy our days.




181. THE WATCH

Man is a watch, wound up at first, but never
Wound up again; Once down, he's down for ever.
The watch once down, all motions then do cease;
The man's pulse stopt, all passions sleep in peace.




182. UPON THE DETRACTER

I ask'd thee oft what poets thou hast read,
And lik'st the best? Still thou repli'st, The dead.
--I shall, ere long, with green turfs cover'd be;
Then sure thou'lt like, or thou wilt envy, me.




183. ON HIMSELF

Live by thy Muse thou shalt, when others die,
Leaving no fame to long posterity;
When monarchies trans-shifted are, and gone,
Here shall endure thy vast dominion.





NATURE AND LIFE

184. I CALL AND I CALL

I call, I call: who do ye call?
The maids to catch this cowslip ball!
But since these cowslips fading be,
Troth, leave the flowers, and maids, take me!
Yet, if that neither you will do,
Speak but the word, and I'll take you,




185. THE SUCCESSION OF THE FOUR SWEET MONTHS

First, April, she with mellow showers
Opens the way for early flowers;
Then after her comes smiling May,
In a more rich and sweet array;
Next enters June, and brings us more
Gems than those two that went before;
Then, lastly, July comes, and she
More wealth brings in than all those three.




186. TO BLOSSOMS

Fair pledges of a fruitful tree,
Why do ye fall so fast?
Your date is not so past,
But you may stay yet here a-while,
To blush and gently smile;
And go at last.