The Good Man Perished from the Earth, Poem 3
REader, Behold the Fates of Mortal glory,
And with it by reflexion thine own Story.
Heaven in our grief prepared us a gourd,
Whose shade did soul-refreshing us afford,
With Fruits of Paradise dropt by his word.
What said I, dropt? no; for this Conduit flow'd
With Rivers, which he to the Fountain ow'd,
Which Heaven on him, and he on us bestow'd.
But Heaven, that sent the Gourd, hath sent a Worm,
The Gourd to smite, and make it wither away;
Blasting our comforts in't as with a storm;
Breaking our staffe of Bread, and all our stay.
Ay me! this life's refreshing's but a shade,
Our streams, gourds, fruits, will never cease to fade.
Why? all that time doth bound, was therefore made.
Was't so? therefore extend thy heart and hope,
Beyond the limits of what's temporary:
And let thy thoughts, desires, and actions scope,
Only to what is infinite thee carry.
Long for the fountain of true bliss and light,
What ere's on this side that's but starry bright,
The beauty not of Sun-shine day, but night.
Prophets our Pilots are in this Worlds Seas,
Wherein we sail and toss, yet still Heaven bound;
Masters take Pilots on and off as please:
Our Master, our best Pilot will be found.
Who so to him, and to his compass look,
The Star and Charts of his most sacred Book,
They never will, they never were forsook.
Fowler, in spight of Momus grinning scorn,
Of Renegado's cruising here and there,
Of lurking men of prey, Satans forlorn,
Steer'd a brave course, through peril… without fear,
Made a rich Voyage, but was caught on shore;
Be-heaven'd in happy Port, and seen no more,
Till we, and Ship, arrive with fraight and store,
This Faithful Shepherd watch'd his Flock so well,
'Gainst barking Dogs and greedy Wolves, and Thief,
He fed them richly, led them safely, bare the bell
Of all the Shepherds for poor souls relief.
When Beasts and bruitish men beset him strong,
Hunting the Shepherd with full-mouth'd cry;
Certes, they had him swallow'd with his throng,
But the chief Shepherd did this game espy,
Housing the Shepherd safe, folding the Sheep,
Who for his Flocks doth watch and never sleep;
Joy then dear hearts! and cease to mourn and weep.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Cooper, The Good Man Perished from the Earth (1677)