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Show 52 'POEMS, A* i . . W e court our o w n Captivity Than Thrones more great and innocent I 'Twere banifhment to be fet free, Since w e wear fetters whofe intent Not Bondage is but Ornament, J • Divided joys are tedious found, Arid griefs united eafier grow : W e are our felves but by rebound, And all our Titles (huffled fo, Both Princes, and both Subjects too. • 61 Our Hearts are mutual Victims laid, While they (fuch power in Friendfhip Ties) Are Altars, Priefts, and OfPrings made : And each Heart which thus kindly dies, Grows deathlefs by the Sacrifice. • - V,._ !• ••'! ^ f " ' 1 ' Content, To my dearett Lucafia. A C^Ontent, the falfe Worlds belt difguife, y The fearch and faction of the Wife, Is fo abftrufe and hid in night, That, like that Fairy Red-crofs Knight, W h o treacherous Falfhood for clear Truth had got, M e n think they have it when they-have it not. For Courts Content would gladly own, But fhe ne'er dwelt about a Throne : And T 0 E M & And to be flatter'd, rich, and great, Are things which do Mens fenfes cheat. But grave Experience long fince this did fee, Ambition and Content would ne'er agree. 3- Some vainer would Content expect From what their bright Out-fides reflect: But fure Content is more Divine Than to be digg'd from Rock or Mine : And they that know her beauties will confefs, She needs no luftre from a glittering drefs. In Mirth fome place her, but fhe fcorns Th' affiftance of fuch crackling thorns, Nor owes her felf to fuch thin fport, That is fo fharp antifc^ct fo fhort : And Painters tell us they the fame ftrokes place T o make a laughing and a weeping face. 5- Others there are that place Content In I iberty from Government: But whomfoe er Paffions deprave, Though free from fhackles, he's a flave. Content and Bondage differ only then, W h e n w e are chain'd by Vices, not by Men. 6. Some think the Camp Content does know, And that fhe fits o' th' Victor's brow: But in his Laurel there is feen Often a Cyprefs-brow between. |