With outward Smiles their Flatt'ry I receiv'd;
Own'd my Sick Mind by their Difcourfe reliev'd;
But bent and inward to my Self again

Perplex'd, these Matters I revolv'd; in vain.
My Search still tir'd, my Labor ftill renew'd,
At length I Ignorance, and Knowledge view'd,
Impartial; Both in equal Balance laid:

[weigh'd.

Light flew the knowing Scale; the doubtful Heavy

Forc'd by reflective Reafon, I confefs,

That human Science is uncertain Guess.

Alas! We grafp at Clouds, and beat the Air,
Vexing that Spirit We intend to clear.

Can Thought beyond the Bounds of Matter climb?
Or who shall tell Me, what is Space or Time?
In vain We lift up our prefumptuous Eyes

To what our Maker to their Ken denies:

The Searcher follows faft; the Object fafter flies.
The little which imperfectly We find,

Seduces only the bewilder'd Mind

To fruitless Search of Something yet behind.
Various Difcuffions tear our heated Brain:
Opinions often turn; ftill Doubts remain;
And who indulges Thought, increases Pain.

How

Quam tenui claufa orbiculo Sapientia sudat!
Perluftrat terras: fperat comprendere cœlum:
Obfcuras feffis nubes nunc pervolat alis,
Nunc acri perculfa Diei luce vagatur;

Latèque expanfi fupremo à culmine tractâs

Vix, trepidante oculo, videt eminùs INFINITUM.

Pectore fige memor, facro ex ardore fciendi,
ADAMO prognate, tuos fluxiffe dolores.
Cur vano ulteriùs curfu tibi corda fatigas?
Cur vetitos captat temeraria dextera fructus;
Dum nifu elufo fudans, vacuoque labore
Expetis ut vitam quæfita Scientia pandat?
Æterno à facra depelleris Arbore fato,

Quam circum ardefcunt Gladii, CHERUBESq; minantur.

How narrow Limits were to Wisdom giv'n!
Earth She furveys: She thence would measure Heav'n:
Thro' Mifts obfcure, now wings her tedious Way:
Now wanders dazl'd with too bright a Day;

And from the Summit of a pathless Coast
Sees INFINITE, and in that Sight is loft.

Remember, that the curs'd Defire to know,
Off-spring of ADAM, was thy Source of Woe.
Why wilt thou then renew the vain Pursuit,
And rafhly catch at the forbidden Fruit?
With empty Labour and eluded Strife
Seeking, by Knowledge, to attain to Life;
For ever from that fatal Tree debarr'd,

Which flaming Swords and angry CHERUBS guard.

:

DE

MUNDI VANITATE.

POEM A

MATTHÆI PRIOR Arm.

LATINE REDDITUM,

Per GUIL. DOBSON, Nov. Coll. Oxon. Schol.

OXONIÆ,

E THEATRO SHELDONIANO,

MDCCXXXV.