Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DE VITA BEATA; PARAPHRASED FROM THE LATIN, by CHARLES COTTON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DE VITA BEATA; PARAPHRASED FROM THE LATIN, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Come, y'are deceiv'd, and what you do
Last Line: Has power fortune to disthrone.
Subject(s): Life


COME, y'are deceiv'd, and what you do
Esteem a happy life's not so;
He is not happy that excels
I' th' Lapidary's bagatelles;
Nor he, that when he sleeps doth lie
Under a stately canopy;
Nor he, that still supinely hides,
In easy down, his lazy sides;
Nor he, that purple wears, and sups
Luxurious draughts in golden cups;
Nor he, that loads with princely fare,
His bowing tables, whilst they'll bear;
Nor he, that has each spacious vault
With deluges of plenty fraught,
Cull'd from the fruitful Libyan fields,
When autumn his best harvest yields;
But he whom no mischance affrights,
Nor popular applause delights,
That can unmov'd, and undismay'd,
Confront a ruffian's threatening blade:
Who can do this; that man alone
Has power Fortune to disthrone.





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