LO: of themselves the enlivened chess men move:

Lo! the unbid ill organ'd pieces prove

As full of art and industry,

Of courage and of policy,

As we ourselves, who think there's nothing wise, but we

Here a proud pawn, I admire,

That still advancing higher,
At top of all, became

Another thing and name.

Here I am amazed at the bold actions of a knight,

Who does great wonders in the fight,

Here I the losing part blame,

For those false moves, which break the game,
That to their grave the conquered pieces bring,
And above all the ill conduct of the mated king.
Whate'er these seem, whate'er philosophy
And sense or reason tell, said I,

These things have life, election, liberty.

Tis their own wisdom moulds their state,
Their faults and virtues make their fate.

Thus they do, (said I,) but strait

Lo! from my enlightened eyes, the mists and shadows fall, That hinder spirits from being visible,

And lo! I saw two Angels played the mate.

With men alas, no otherwise it proves:

An unseen hand makes all their moves.

And some are great, and some are small,

Some climb to good, and some from good fortune fall;
Some wise men, and some fools we call,

Figures alas of speech, for destiny plays them all.

With fate what boots it to contend?

Such I began, so am, and so must end!

The star that did my being frame,

Was but a lambent flame:

And some small light it did dispense,

But neither heat, nor influence.

No matter Cowley, let proud fortune see

That thou cans't her despise, no less than she does thee

Let all her gifts the portion be of folly,

Fraud, extortion, vice and calumny,

Rebellion and hypocrisy :

Bo thou not grieve, nor blush to be,