Th’ unactive Element,
In Man is most predominant:
Earth is his belov’d home, and his content:
Hee well could heavenly gloryes want,
If Hell, or Death did not him sometimes fright:
Hee feares the grave, though Earth bee his delight.
Yet Hee lives, as if Hell,
Were but a fable, or a storye,
A place of fancye, that might paralell
The old St Patrickes Purgatory.
Hee mirth recrutes with cup’s, and seldome thinkes
Of Death, untill into the grave Hee sinkes.
But if vaine Man knew well,
To fixe and mannage his designe,
Hee should not stand in feare of Death or Hell.
For Hee’s immortall, and divine:
Flesh is his clogge, which while Hee strives to lighten
More heavy growes: Thus Hee his woes doth heighten.
(Ralph Knevet)
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