Fond man, that looks on earth for happiness, <br />And here long seeks what here is never found! <br />For all our good we hold from Heaven by lease, <br />With many forfeits and conditions bound; <br />Nor can we pay the fine and rentage due; <br />Though now but writ, and sealed, and given anew, <br />Yet daily we it break, then daily must renew. <br /> <br />Why shouldst thou here look for perpetual good, <br />At every loss 'gainst Heaven's face repining? <br />Do but behold where glorious cities stood, <br />With gilded tops and silver turrets shining; <br />There now the heart, fearless of greyhound, feeds, <br />And loving pelican in safety breeds: <br />There screeching satyrs fill the people's empty stedes. <br /> <br />Where is the Assyrian lion's golden hide, <br />That all the East once grasp'd in lordly paw? <br />Where that great Persian bear, whose swelling pride <br />The lion's self tore out with rav'nous jaw? <br />Or he who, 'twixt a lion and a pard, <br />Through all the world with nimble pinions fared, <br />And to his greedy whelps his conquer'd kingdoms shared. <br /> <br />Hardly the place of such antiquity, <br />Or note of those great monarchies we find: <br />Only a fading verbal memory, <br />And empty name, in writ is left behind: <br />But when this second life and glory fades, <br />And sinks at length in Time's obscurer shades, <br />A second fall succeeds, and double death invades.<br /><br />Phineas Fletcher<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/instability-of-human-greatness/
