Page:Poetical Works of John Oldham.djvu/45

Rh Let those gay fops who deem Their infamies accomplishment, Grow scandalous to get esteem, And by disgrace strive to be eminent. Here thou disdainest the common road, Nor wouldst by might be wooed To wear the vain iniquities of the mode. Vice with thy practice did so disagree, Thou scarce couldst bear it in thy theory. Thou didst such ignorance above knowledge prize, And here to be unskilled, is to be wise. Such the first founders of our blood, While yet untempted, stood Contented only to know good. Virtue alone did guide thy actions here, Thou by no other card thy life didst steer: No sly decoy would serve, To make thee from her rigid dictates swerve; Thy love ne'er thought her worse Because thou hadst so few competitors; Thou couldst adore her when adored by none, Content to be her votary alone; When 'twas proscribed the unkind world, And to blind cells, and grottos hurled, When thought the phantom of some crazy brain, Fit for grave anchorets to entertain, A thin chimera, whom dull gown-men frame To gull deluded mortals with an empty name. Thou ownedst no crimes that shunned the light, Whose horror might thy blood affright, And force it to its known retreat. While the pale cheeks do penance in their white, And tell that blushes are too weak to expiate; Thy faults might all be on thy forehead wore, And the whole world thy confessor. 3-2