Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/473

 The Vanit\ of all Worldly Things. 387

Where is it then, in wifdom, learning arts?

Sure if on earth, it muft be in thole parts:

Yet thefe the wifeft man of men did find

But vanity, vexation oP mind.

And he that knowes the moft, doth ftill bemoan

He knows not all that here is to be known.

What is it then, to doe as Stoicks tell.

Nor laugh, nor weep, let things go ill or well.

Such Stoicks are but Stocks fuch teaching vain,

While man is man, he (hall have eafe or pain.

If not in honour, beauty, age nor treafure,

Nor 3'et in learning, wifdome, youth nor pleafure,

Where fiiall I climb, found, feek fearch or find

That Summiini Bomim which may ftay my mind?

There is a path, no vultures eye hath feen.

Where Lion^ fierce, nor lions whelps have been.

Which leads unto that living Cryftal Fount,

Who drinks thereof, the world doth nought account

The depth & fea have faid tis not in me.

With pearl and gold, it fhall not valued be.

For Saphire, Onix, Topaz who would '^ change:

Its hid from eyes of men, they count it Itrange.

Death and defi;ru6tion the fame hath heard,

But where & what it is, from heaven's declared,

It brings to honour, which fhall ne're''' decay.

It ftores ' with wealth which time can't wear away.

It yieldeth pleafures far beyond conceit, [235]

And truly beautifies without deceit,

' of the. / lions. s will. -^ not. » fteeres.

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