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b"H Vaughan read by Classic Poetry Aloud:\\n http://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/\\n \\nGiving voice to the poetry of the past.\\n \\n---------------------------------------------------\\n \\nThe World\\n \\nby Henry Vaughan (1621 \\u2013 1895)\\n \\nI saw Eternity the other night,\\nLike a great ring of pure and endless light,\\n All calm, as it was bright ;\\nAnd round beneath it, Time in hours, days, years\\n Driv'n by the spheres \\nLike a vast shadow mov'd ; in which the world\\n And all her train were hurl'd.\\nThe doting lover in his quaintest strain\\n Did there complain ;\\nNear him, his lute, his fancy, and his flights,\\n Wit's sour delights ;\\nWith gloves, and knots, the silly snares of pleasure,\\n Yet his dear treasure,\\nAll scatter'd lay, while he his eyes did pour\\n Upon a flow'r.\\n\\n2.\\nThe darksome statesman, hung with weights and woe,\\nLike a thick midnight-fog, mov'd there so slow,\\n He did nor stay, nor go ;\\nCondemning thoughts\\u2014like sad eclipses\\u2014scowl\\n Upon his soul, \\nAnd clouds of crying witnesses without\\n Pursued him with one shout.\\nYet digg'd the mole, and lest his ways be found,\\n Work'd under ground,\\nWhere he did clutch his prey ; but one did see\\n That policy :\\nChurches and altars fed him ; perjuries\\n Were gnats and flies ;\\nIt rain'd about him blood and tears, but he\\n Drank them as free. \\n\\n3.\\nThe fearful miser on a heap of rust\\nSate pining all his life there, did scarce trust\\n His own hands with the dust,\\nYet would not place one piece above, but lives\\n In fear of thieves. \\nThousands there were as frantic as himself,\\n And hugg'd each one his pelf ;*\\nThe downright epicure plac'd heav'n in sense,\\n And scorn'd pretence ;\\nWhile others, slipp'd into a wide excess \\n Said little less ;\\nThe weaker sort slight, trivial wares enslave,\\n Who think them brave ;\\nAnd poor, despis\\xe8d Truth sate counting by\\n Their victory. \\n\\n4.\\nYet some, who all this while did weep and sing,\\nAnd sing, and weep, soar'd up into the ring ;\\n But most would use no wing.\\nO fools\\u2014said I\\u2014thus to prefer dark night\\n Before true light ! \\nTo live in grots and caves, and hate the day\\n Because it shows the way ;\\nThe way, which from this dead and dark abode\\n Leads up to God ;\\nA way where you might tread the sun, and be\\n More bright than he !\\nBut as I did their madness so discuss,\\n One whisper'd thus,\\n\\u201cThis ring the Bridegroom did for none provide,\\n But for His bride.\\u201d \\n\\n\\nFirst aired: 9 September, 2008\\n\\nFor hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index.\\n Reading \\xa9 Classic Poetry Aloud 2008"