59
If there be nothing new, but that which is
Hath been before, how are our brains beguil'd,
Which, labouring for invention, bear amiss
The second burden of a former child! 4
O, that record could with a backward look,
Even of five hundred courses of the sun,
Show me your image in some antique book,
Since mind at first in character was done! 8
That I might see what the old world could say
To this composed wonder of your frame;
Whether we are mended, or whe'r better they,
Or whether revolution be the same. 12
O, sure I am, the wits of former days
To subjects worse have given admiring praise.
60
Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,
So do our minutes hasten to their end;
Each changing place with that which goes before,
In sequent toil all forwards do contend. 4
Nativity, once in the main of light,
Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown'd,
Crooked eclipses 'gainst his glory fight,
And Time that gave doth now his gift confound. 8
Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth
And delves the parallels in beauty's brow,
Feeds on the rarities of nature's truth,
And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow: 12
And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,
Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.
3 labouring for invention: striving for originality
5 record: memory
8 in character: in letters
10 composed wonder: wonderful composition
11 mended: advanced beyond our predecessors
whe'r: whether
12 whether revolution be the same: whether all things come round again
4 In sequent toil . . . contend; Cf. n.
5 main: flood
7 Crooked: malignant
9 transfix the flourish: remove the embellishment
10 delves the parallels: digs wrinkles
13 times in hope: future times
