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The Works of Thomas Traherne VI from Poems of Felicity
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2015
Did I grow, or did I stay?
Did I prosper or decay?
When I so
From Things to Thoughts did go?
Did I flourish or diminish,
When I so in Thoughts did finish
What I had in Things begun;
When from God'ss Works to think upon
The Thoughts of Men my Soul did com?
The Thoughts of Men, had they been Wise,
Should more delight me than the Skies.
They mighty Creatures are
For these the Mind
Affect, afflict, do eas or grind;
But foolish Thoughts ensnare.
Wise ones are a sacred Treasure;
Tru ones yield Substantial Pleasure:
Compar'd to them,
I Things as Shades esteem.
False ones are a foolish Flourish,
(Such as Mortals chiefly nourish)
When I them to Things compare,
Compar'd to Things, they Trifles are;
Bad Thoughts do hurt, deceiv, ensnare.
A good Man's Thoughts are of such price
That they creäte a Paradise:
But he that misemploys
That Faculty,
God, Men, and Angels doth defy;
Robs them of all their Joys.
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