Of lists,1

Knot snarled ruffs,

Loose broken tufts

Of twists,

Are my torn meditation's ragged clothing,
Which, wound and woven shape a suit for nothing:
One while I think, and then I am in pain
To think how to unthink that thought again.

How can my soul

But famish

With this food?

Pleasure's full bowl

Tastes ramish,2

Taints the blood.

Profit picks bones,

And chews on stones

That choke :

Honour climbs hills,

Fats not, but fills

With smoke.

And whilst my thoughts are greedy upon these,
They pass by pearls, and stoop to pick up pease.
Such wash and draff is fit for none but swine:
And such I am not, Lord, if I am thine.

Clothe me anew, and feed me then afresh ;

Else my soul dies famish'd, and starved with flesh.

''Lists,' 'snarled ruffs,' &c.: old pieces of dress.- 'Ramish:' what is called in Scotland 'wersh,' i. e., tasteless.

LORD, I will mear and Freak a me

My busy heart sal EX

And when i sin c. 5V/#_

Then will I wring is wil 1 EU
That thor may

Is lang I forg

Not all the teams fun

Can hale or draw I LOZ

Legs are but stamps and Pa

And struggling kinders nore

Thousands of things do des T

In ruling al

This spacious Globe: 1

Devils their rod, die es

The winds their sting: and.
Thou heardat my call, and re

A PARADOX.

THE WORSE THE BETTER.

WELCOME mine health: this sickness makes me well.
Medicines adieu :

When with diseases I have list to dwell,
I'll wish for you.

Welcome my strength: this weakness makes me able.
Powers adieu :

When I am weary grown of standing stable,
I'll wish for you.

Welcome my wealth: this loss hath gain'd me more. Riches adieu :

When I again grow greedy to be poor,

I'll wish for you.

Welcome my credit: this disgrace is glory.
Honours adieu :

When for renown and fame I shall be sorry,
I'll wish for you.

Welcome content: this sorrow is my joy.
Pleasures adieu :

When I desire such griefs as may annoy,
I'll wish for you.

Health, strength, and riches, credit, and content,
Are spared best, sometimes, when they are spent:
Sickness and weakness, loss, disgrace, and sorrow,
Lend most sometimes, when they seem most to borrow.

Blest be that hand, that helps by hurting, gives
By taking, by forsaking me relieves.

If in my fall my rising be thy will,
Lord, I will say, The worse the better still.
I'll speak the Paradox, maintain thou it,
And let thy grace supply my want of wit.
Leave me no learning that a man may see,
So I may be a scholar unto thee.

INMATES.

A HOUSE I had (a heart, I mean), so wide,
And full of spacious rooms on every side,

That viewing it I thought I might do well,
Rather than keep it void, and make no gain,
Of what I could not use, to entertain

Such guests as came: I did; But what befell
Me quickly in that course, I sigh to tell.

A guest I had (alas! I have her still),
A great big bellied guest, enough to fill
The vast content of hell, Corruption.

By entertaining her, I lost my right

To more than all the world hath now in sight.
Each day, each hour, almost, she brought forth one,
Or other base begot Transgression.

The charge grew great. I, that had lost before
All that I had, was forced now to score

For all the charges of their maintenance

In dooms-day book: Whoever knew 't would say
The least sum there was more than I could pay,
When first 'twas due, besides continuance,

Which could not choose but much the debt enhance