Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WHAT IS'T TO US WHO GUIDES THE STATE, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WHAT IS'T TO US WHO GUIDES THE STATE, by                    
Last Line: And drink and sing to those we love
Subject(s): Virtue


WHAT is't to us who guides the state
Who's out of favour or who's great?
Who are the ministers or spies?
Who votes for places, or who buys?

The world will still be rul'd by knaves,
And fools contending to be slaves;
Small things, my friend, serve to support
Life, troublesome at best, and short.

Our youth runs back, occasion flies,
Grey hairs come on, and pleasure dies;
Who would the present blessing lose
For empire which he cannot use?

Kind providence has us supply'd
With what to others is deny'd;
Virtue, which teaches to condemn
And scorn ill actions and ill men.

Beneath this lime-tree's fragrant shade,
On beds of flowers supinely laid,
Let's, then, all other cares remove,
And drink and sing to those we love.





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