S. AUGUST., lib. Confess.

0 you that dote upon the world, for what victory do ye fight? Your hopes can be crowned with no greater reward than the world can give; and what is the world but a brittle thing full of dangers, wherein we travel from lesser to greater perils? Oh, let all her vain, light, and momentary glory perish with herself, and let us be conversant with more eternal things.

ECCL., chap. 1, v. 2, 14.

Vanity of vanities; saith the preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

LUKE, chap. 9, v. 25.

For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

EPIG.

One paradox the Moth and Man entangles :

She burns her legs off—and still seeks the candles :

So thoughtless he, bilk'd, cross'd, and wounded, daily

teazed;

Still wooes the swindling world-as were his brain diseased.

EMBLEM VII.

ECCLES., chap. 3, v. 1.

To every thing there is an appointed time.

AVAUNT thy hand!--my days fly so too fast!
Just now I've leisure to review the past-
Let go the Index! tell me, has fell spite
Embued thee?-so to hasten on the night.-
The Index, as the horologe, goes well,

No hour escapés unmark'd its loud-tongued

bell.

I have not clogg'd the wheels, or staid its go;
But kept them fed with oil, and clean-altho'
I've often wish'd the pendulum might stand,
Without the aid of my too willing hand.
Scythe-man! forbear-the days of my existence
Are few enough, without thy sharp assistance!

Time.-Thine oil has not been pure!-the wheels are

clogg'd

The pendulum's too slow-and must be jogg'd!
The works are sore disorder'd-and I trow

You've lived too fast-and it goes far too slow!
With Thee, the hour of twelve has long since

chimed

Yet here the Index lags at six. Lady.-Ill

timed!

Time.-Poor soul! I will but set the Meter right

That thou may'st truly know Time's rapid

flight!

Thy constitution fails-thy death's begun! Thy day is spent before the set of sun! Lady.-How lived too fast ?—of what have I partook Not drest by rules of culinary book?

Did I e'er sip but of the costliest wine?—

Or e'er on couch less soft than down, recline?

Have I lethargically gone to bed

Before the sun decampt―or night was sped?—

I ne'er exposed me to the evening's dew,