The Works of Abraham Cowley/Volume 2/The Thraldom

by Abraham Cowley

THE THRALDOM.

I Came, I saw, and was undone;Lightning did through my bones and marrow run;A pointed pain pierc'd deep my heart;A swift cold trembling seiz'd on every part;My head turn'd round, nor could it bearThe poison that was enter'd there.

So a destroying-angel's breathBlows-in the plague, and with it hasty death: Such was the pain, did so begin,To the poor wretch, when Legion enter'd in."Forgive me, God!" I cry'd; for IFlatter'd myself I was to die.

But quickly to my cost I found,'T was cruel Love, not Death, had made the wound;Death a more generous rage does use;Quarter to all he conquers does refuse:Whilst Love with barbarous mercy savesThe vanquish'd lives, to make them slaves.

am thy slave then; let me know,Hard master! the great task I have to do:Who pride and scorn do undergo.In tempests and rough seas thy galleys row;They pant, and groan, and sigh; but findTheir sighs increase the angry wind.

Like an Egyptian tyrant, someThou weariest out in building but a tomb;Others, with sad and tedious art,Labour i' th' quarries of a stony heart:$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Of all the works thou dost assignTo all the several slaves of thine,Employ me, mighty Love! to dig the mine.