When God at first made man, Having a glass of blessings standing by, Let us (said he) pour on him all we can: Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie, Contract into a span. So strength first made a way; The beauty flowed, then wisdom, honor, pleasure: When almost all was out, God made a stay, Perceiving, that, alone, of all his treasure, Rest in the bottom lay. For if I should (said he) Bestow this jewel also on my creature, He would adore my gifts instead of me, And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature: So both should losers be. Yet let him keep the rest, But keep them with repining restlessness: Let him be rich and weary, that, at least, If goodness lead him not, yet weariness May toss him to my breast. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EGOISME A DEUX' by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON EPITAPH ON A HARE by WILLIAM COWPER TO THE BOY by ELIZABETH CLEMENTINE DODGE KINNEY THE MARCH INTO VIRGINIA by HERMAN MELVILLE THE LIVING GOD by ABRAHAM IBN EZRA WHITE FOR MOURNING by AL-FATA AL-KAFIF |