Maitland Club > Works of Sir Thomas Urquhart
(58) Page 18
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18 THE FIRST BOOKE
HOW DIFFICULT A THING IT IS TO TREAD IN THE PATHES
OF VERTUE.
The way to vertue's hard, uneafie, bends
Aloft, being full of fteep, and rugged alleys ;
For never one to a high place afcends,
That always keepes the plaine, and pleafant valleyes :
And reafon in each humane breaft ordaines,
That precious things be purchafed with paines.
A COUNSELL TO ONE OPPRESSED WITH BONDAGE AND CRUELL
DISASTERS.
Whats'ever be your fortune, let your deeds
With your affection always jump ; for by
Defiring to do that, which you rauft needs,
You'll blunt the fharpneile of neceffity :
And making of conftraint a willingneffe,
Be glad in fpight of crolFes, and diftreffe.
HOW FORTUNE OFTENTIMES MOST PREPOSTEROUSLY POND'RING
THE ACTIONS OF MEN, WITH A GREAT DEALE OF INJUSTICE
BESTOWETH HER FAVOURS.
Fortune, with wealth and honour at her feet,
And holding in her hand a ballance, fits
Weighing human defert, as flie thinks fit :
One of the fcales whereof the learn'deft wits,
Moft vertuous, and of choileft parts containes ;
The other being appointed for iiich, as
Are vicious, light, and deilitute of braines.
The light are mounted up into the place,
Where riches, and preferment lye expofed
To thofe, can reach them ; while the other fcale,
By th'only weight of worth, therein inclofed,
Is more fubmiiuvely depreft, then all
That hangs on Fortune's ballance. And the higher,
That hair-brain'd heads b'advanc'd above the itates
Of others in this world ; fo much the nigher
To want and bondage are the wifer pates.
HOW DIFFICULT A THING IT IS TO TREAD IN THE PATHES
OF VERTUE.
The way to vertue's hard, uneafie, bends
Aloft, being full of fteep, and rugged alleys ;
For never one to a high place afcends,
That always keepes the plaine, and pleafant valleyes :
And reafon in each humane breaft ordaines,
That precious things be purchafed with paines.
A COUNSELL TO ONE OPPRESSED WITH BONDAGE AND CRUELL
DISASTERS.
Whats'ever be your fortune, let your deeds
With your affection always jump ; for by
Defiring to do that, which you rauft needs,
You'll blunt the fharpneile of neceffity :
And making of conftraint a willingneffe,
Be glad in fpight of crolFes, and diftreffe.
HOW FORTUNE OFTENTIMES MOST PREPOSTEROUSLY POND'RING
THE ACTIONS OF MEN, WITH A GREAT DEALE OF INJUSTICE
BESTOWETH HER FAVOURS.
Fortune, with wealth and honour at her feet,
And holding in her hand a ballance, fits
Weighing human defert, as flie thinks fit :
One of the fcales whereof the learn'deft wits,
Moft vertuous, and of choileft parts containes ;
The other being appointed for iiich, as
Are vicious, light, and deilitute of braines.
The light are mounted up into the place,
Where riches, and preferment lye expofed
To thofe, can reach them ; while the other fcale,
By th'only weight of worth, therein inclofed,
Is more fubmiiuvely depreft, then all
That hangs on Fortune's ballance. And the higher,
That hair-brain'd heads b'advanc'd above the itates
Of others in this world ; fo much the nigher
To want and bondage are the wifer pates.
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| Publications by Scottish clubs > Maitland Club > Works of Sir Thomas Urquhart > (58) Page 18 |
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| Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/82499817 |
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| Description | Reprinted from the original editions. Edited by Thomas Maitland. |
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| Shelfmark | SCS.MC.30 |
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| Description | Full text versions of historical texts dating from the 12th to the 19th century. Edited by the Abbotsford, Bannatyne, Grampian, Hunterian, Spalding and New Spalding Clubs, and also the Scottish Text, Spottiswoode and Wodrow Societies. Critical printed editions of manuscripts, including church records, state papers, correspondence, memoirs, diaries, legends and literary texts. |
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