A Ring Of Endless Light

«The World

I

I saw Eternity the other night like a great Ring of pure and endless light,

All calm, as it was bright, and round beneath it, time is hours, days, years

Driven by the spheres like a vast shadow moved, in which the world

And all her train were hurled; the doting lover in his quaintest strain

Did there complain, near him, his lute, his fancy, and his flights,

Wites sour delights, with gloves, and knots the silly snares of pleasure

Yet his dear treasure all scattered lay, while he his eyes did pour

Upon a flower.

II

The darksome statesman hung with weights and woe

Like a thick midnight fog moved there so slow

He did nor stay, nor go; condemning thoughts (like sad eclipses) scowl

Upon his soul, And clouds of crying witnesses without

Pursued him with one shout. Yet digged the mole,

and lest his ways be found

Worked under ground, where he did clutch his prey, but one did see

That policy, churches and altars fed him, perjuries

Were gnats and flies, it rained about him blood and tears, but he

Drank them as free.

III

The fearful miser on a heap of rust sat

pining all his life there, did scarce trust

His own hands with the dust,

but would not place one piece above, but lives

In fear of thieves. Thousands there were as frantic as himself

And hugged each one his pelf,

the downright epicure placed heaven in sense

And scorned pretnece while others slipt into a wide excess

Said little less; the weaker sort slight, trivial wares enslave

Who think them brave, and poor, despised truth sat counting by

Their victory.

IV

Yet some, who all this while did weep and sing,

And sing, and weep, soared up into the Ring,

But most would use no wing. O fools (said I,) thus to prefer dark night

Before true light, to live in grots, and caves, and hate the day

Because it shows the way, the way which from the dead and dark abode

Leads up to God, a way where you might tread the Sun, and be

More bright than he. But as I did their madness so discuss

One whispered thus, "This Ring the Bridegroom did for none provide

But for his bride."»

Henry Vaughn (1621-1695)