01c. 1617 ADGod never had a church but there, men say, The Devil a chapel hath raised by some wyles. I doubted of this saw, till on a day I westward spied great Edinburgh's Saint Gyles.William Drummond / quote ↗
02c. 1617 ADThe weary mariner so fast not flies An howling tempest, harbour to attain; Nor shepherd hastes, when frays of wolves arise, So fast to fold, to save his bleating train! As I, wing’d with contempt and just disdain, Now fly the world and what it most doth prize, And sanctuary seek, free to remain From wounds of abject times, and envy’s eyes: To me this world did once seem sweet and fair, While sense’s light mind’s perspective kept blind; Now like imagin’d landscapes in the air, And weeping rainbows, her best joys I find; Or if aught here is had that praise should have, It is an obscure life and silent grave.William Drummond / quote ↗
03c. 1617 ADOf this fair volume which we “world” do name, If we the sheets and leaves could turn with care, Of him who it corrects and did it frame, We clear might read the art and wisdom rare, Find out his power, which wildest powers doth tame, His providence extending everywhere, His justice, which proud rebels doth not spare, In every page—no period of the same. But silly we, like foolish children, rest Well pleas’d with colour’d vellum, leaves of gold, Fair dangling ribbands—leaving what is best; On the great writer’s sense ne’er taking hold; Or if by chance we stay our minds on aught, It is some picture on the margin wrought.William Drummond / quote ↗
04c. 1617 ADHe who will not reason, is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not, is a slave.William Drummond / quote ↗
05c. 1617 ADBooks have that strange quality, that being of the frailest and tenderest matter, they outlast brass, iron and marble.William Drummond / quote ↗
06c. 1617 ADSleep Silence's child sweet father of soft rest Prince whose approach peace to all mortals brings Indifferent host to shepherds and kings Sole comforter to minds with grief oppressed.William Drummond / quote ↗
