Vanity (I)

The fleet astronomer can bore

And thread the spheres with his quick-piercing mind:

He views their stations, walks from door to door,

         Surveys, as if he had designed

To make a purchase there; he sees their dances,

                   And knoweth long before

Both their full-eyes aspècts, and secret glances.

         The nimble diver with his side

Cuts through the working waves, that he may fetch

His dearly-earnèd pearl, which God did hide

         On purpose from the venturous wretch;

That he might save his life, and also hers

                   Who with excessive pride

Her own destruction and his danger wears.

         The subtle chymic can divest

And strip the creature naked, till he find

The callow principles within their nest:

         There he imparts to them his mind,

Admitted to their bed-chamber, before

                   They appear trim and dressed

To ordinary suitors at the door.

         What hath not man sought out and found,

But his dear God? who yet his glorious law

Embosoms in us, mellowing the ground

         With showers and frosts, with love and awe,

So that we need not say, “Where’s this command?”

                   Poor man, thou searchest round

To find out death, but missest life at hand.