This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1841 Excerpt: ...one. THE WORLD. I Saw eternity the other night, Like a great ring of pure and endless light, All calm as it was bright: And round beneath it, time in hours, days, years, Driven by the spheres, Like a vast shadow moved, in which the world And all her train were hurled. The doting lover in his quaintest strain Did there complain; Near him his lute, his fancy, and his flights,--Wit so delights--With gloves and knots, the silly snares of pleasure; Yet his dear treasure All scattered lay, while he his eyes did pour Upon a flower. The darksome statesman, hung with weights and woe, Like a thick midnight fog, moved there so slow, He did not stay nor go; Condemning thoughts (like sad eclipses) scowl Upon his soul, And clouds of crying witnesses without Pursued him with one shout; Yet digged the mole, and, lest his ways be found, Worked under ground, Where he did clutch his prey,--but one did see That policy. Churches and altars fed him; perjuries Were gnats and flies; It rained about him blood and tears, but he Drank them as free. The fearful miser on a heap of rust Sate pining all his life there--did scarce trust His own hands with the dust; Yet would not place one piece above, but lives In fear of thieves. Thousands there were as frantic as himself, And hugged each one his pelf: The downright epicure placed heaven in sense, And scorned pretence; While others slipped into a wide excess, Said little less: The weaker sort slight, trivial wares enslave, Who think them brave; And poor despised truth sat counting by Their victory. Yet some, who all this while did weep and sing, And sing and weep, soared up into the ring: But most would use no wing. O fools! (said I), thus to prefer dark night Before true light; To live in grots and caves, and hate the day, Because it sh...
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.