POVERTY

I nothing doubt (Great and Immortal Powers) But that the place, your wisdom hath denied My foe, your Justice will confer on me; Since that which renders him incapable, Proves a strong plea for me. I could pretend, Even in these rags, a larger Sovereignty Then gaudy Wealth in all his pomp can boast; For mark how few they are that share the World; The numerous Armies, and the swarming Ants That fight and toil for them, are all my Subject's, They take my wages, wear my Livery: Invention too and Wit, are both my creatures, And the whole raze of Virtue is my Offspring; As many mischiefs issue from my womb, And those as mighty, as proceed from gold. Oft over his Throne I wave my awful Sceprer, And in the bowels of his state command, When' amid his heaps of coin, and hills of gold, I pine, and starve the avaritious Fool. But I decline those titles, and lay claim To heaven, by right of Divine contemplation; She is my Darling, I, in my soft lap, Free from disturbing cares, bargains, accounts, Leases, Rends, Stewards, and the fear of thieves, That vex the rich, nurse her in calm repose, And with her, all the Virtues speculative, Which, but with me, find no secure retreat. For entertainment of this hour, I'll call A raze of people to this place, that live At Nature's charge, and not importune heaven To chain the winds up, or keep back the storms, To stay the thunder, or forbid the hail To thresh the unreaped ear; but to all weathers, Both chilling frost, and scalding Sun, expose Their equal face, Come forth, my swarthy train, In this fair cireled dance, and as you move, Mark, and foretell happy events of Love.