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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WORLD, by                    
First Line: Nay now I'm sure my judgement's sound
Last Line: It proves but artificial ouglines.
Subject(s): Manknd; Superficiality; Deception; Faith; Belief; Creed


NAY now I'm sure my judgement's sound,
Since ripe experience is its ground.
Why, I my self have felt & seen
Thy tedious vanity;
Fond shameless World, & canst thou ween
I will for thee ev'n common sense deny?

2

Thou wear'st a beauteous skin, I grant;
And do the deadly Serpents want
Those dangerous hypocrisies?
Or is the Poisons soule
Less its curs'd self, bycause it lies
In the brave ambush of a golden boule?

3

When Israels, & Wisdomes, King
Did stoutly to the touchstone bring
Thy fairest Peeces, did not they
Prove base-bred counterfets;
Whose stamp though neat, & colour gay,
Their purest ore was but refined Cheats.

4

And oh that I had been content
To rest on his Experiment!
But since I at the cost have been
By thee deceivd to be,
'Tis not another World could win
My heart to dote: or trust on empty thee.

5

Go fawn on those whose frothy minde
Can solace in a bubble finde,
And Juno in a Clowd imbrace;
Who by the lying Paint
Which smiles upon their Idols face
Doubt not to count the beauties of their Saint.

6

And yet thy Paint's so silly too,
It can no warey Lover woo.
Indeed good Shaddows sprucely show;
But where the Picture is
Nothing besides, (and such art thou)
It proves but artificial Ouglines.





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