Anne Kingsmill Finch, Countess of Winchilsea - All is Vanity (Chap.6) lyrics

True, says the Man to Luxury inclined; Without the Study of uncertain Art, Without much Labor of the Mind, Meer uninstructed Nature will impart, That Life too swiftly flies, and leaves all good behind. Sieze then, my Friends, (he cries) the present Hour; The Pleasure which to that belongs, The Feasts, the overflowing Bowls, the Mirth, the Songs, The Orange-Bloom, that with such Sweetness blows, Anacreon's celebrated Rose, The Hyacinth, with every beauteous Flower, Which just this happy Moment shall disclose, Are out of Fortune's reach, and all within our Power. Such costly 3 Garments let our Slaves prepare, As for the gay Demetrius were designed; Where a new Sun of radiant Diamonds shined, Where the enameled Earth, and scarce-discerned Air, With a transparent Sea were seen, A Sea composed of the Emerald's Green, And with a golden Shore encompa**ed round; Where every Orient Shell, of wondrous shape was found. The whole Creation on his Shoulders hung, The whole Creation with his Wish complied, Did swiftly, for each Appetite provide, And fed them all when Young. No less, the 4 Assyrian Prince enjoyed, Of Bliss too soon deprived, but never cloyed, Whose Counsel let us still pursue, Whose Monument, did this Inscription shew To every Pa**enger, that trod the way, Where, with a slighting 5 Hand, and scornful Smile The proud Effigies, on the instructive Pile, A great Example lay. I, here Entombed, did mighty Kingdoms sway, Two Cities raised 6 in one prodigious Day: Thou wandering Traveler, no longer gaze, No longer dwell upon this useless Place; Go Feed, and Drink, in Sports consume thy Life; For All that else we gain's not worth a Moment's Strife. Thus! talks the Fool, whom no Restraint can bound, When now the Gla** has gone a frequent round; When soaring Fancy lightly swims, Fancy, that keeps above, and dances o'er the Brims; Whilst weighty Reason sinks, and in the bottom's drown'd; Adds to his Own, an artificial Fire, Doubling every hot Desire, Till the auxiliary Spirits, in a Flame, The Stomach's Magazine defy, That standing Pool, that helpless Moisture nigh, Through every Vital part impetuous fly, And quite consume the Frame; When to the Under-world despised he goes, A pampered Carca** on the Worms bestows, Who rioting on the unusual Cheer, As good a Life enjoy, as he could boast of here. NOTES : 3 [AF] In the Life of Demetrius in Plutarch, there is a Description of a Garment order'd to be made for him; wherein was expressed, in precious Stones, and other costly Materials, the Elements as here described. 4 [AF] Sardanapalus 5 [AF] In Sardanapalus's Statue upon his Monument (as described by several Authors, and upon Medals) his right Hand is held up, with his Fingers as giving a Filip to the World. 6 [AF] Anchialus and Tarsus.