Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CONSIDERATUS CONSIDERANDUS, by JOHN WILMOT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CONSIDERATUS CONSIDERANDUS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: What pleasures can the gaudy world afford?
Last Line: As we on indians glass, for gems intrude.
Alternate Author Name(s): Rochester, 2d Earl Of


WHAT pleasures can the gaudy World afford?
What true delights do's teeming Nature hoard?
In her great Store-house, where she lays her treasure,
Alas, 'tis all the shaddow of a pleasure;
No true Content in all her works are found,
No sollid Joys in all Earth's spacious round:
For Labouring Man, who toils himself in vain,
Eagerly grasping, what creates his pain.
How false and feeble, nay scarce worth a Name,
Are Riches, Honour, Pow'r, and babling Fame.
Yet'tis, for these Men wade through Seas of Blood
And bold in Mischief, Storm to be withstood;
Which when obtain'd, breed but Stupendious Fear,
Strife, Jelousies, and sleep disturbing care,
No beam of comfort, not a Ray of light
Shines thence, to guide us through Fates Gloomy Night:
But lost in devious Darkness, There we stay,
Bereft of Reason in an endless way;
Vertue's the Sollid good, if any be;
'Tis this Creates our true Felicitie;
Though we Despise, Contemn, and cast it by,
As worthless, or our fatal'st Enemy;
Because our darling lusts it dare controule,
And bound the Roveings of the Madding Soul.
Therefore in Garments poor, it still appears,
And sometimes (naked) it no Garment wears;
Shun'd by the Great, and worthless thought by most,
Urg'd to be gone, or wish'd for ever lost;
Yet is it loath to leave our wretched Coast.
But in disguise do's here and there intrude,
Striving to conquer base Ingratitude:
And boldly ventures now and then to Shine,
So to make known it is of Birth divine;
But Clouded oft, it like the Lightning plays,
Loosing as soon as seen it's pointed Rays.
Which Scarceness makes those that are weak in wit,
For Virtues self, admire it's counterfeit:
With which dam'd Hippocrites the World delude;
As we on Indians Glass, for Gems intrude.





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