Let him that will ascend, the tottering Seat
Of courtly Grandeur, and become as great
As are his mounting Wishes: As for me,
Let sweet repose and rest my Portion be;
Give me some mean obscure Recess, a Sphere
Out of the Road of Business, or the fear
Of falling lower; where I sweetly may
My self and dear retirement still enjoy:
Let not my Life and Name be known unto
The Grandees of the Time, tost to and fro
By Censures or Applause; but let my Age
Slide gently by, not overthwart the Stage
Of Publick Action, unheard, unseen,
And unconcern’d, as if I near had been.
And thus, while I shall pass my silent days
In shady privacy, free from the Noise
And bustles of the mad World, then shall I
A good old Innocent Plebeian Die.
Death is a mere Surprise, a very Snare
To him, that makes it his Lifes greatest Care
To be a publick Pageant, known to all,
But unacquainted with himself, doth fall.
(Matthew Hale)
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Matthew Hale Poems based on Topics: Time, Business & Commerce, Death & Dying, Privacy, Self, Madness, World, Actions, FearReaders Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: World Poems, Time Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Fear Poems, Madness Poems, Business & Commerce Poems, Self Poems, Actions Poems, Privacy PoemsBased on Keywords: censures, unacquainted, plebeian, bustles, grandees, overthwart