quote · Legacy record
Should any to himself for safety fly? The way to save himself (if any were) Is to fly from himself. Should he rely Upon the promise of his wife? What there, What can he see, but that he most may fear, A syren sweet to death? Upon his friends? Who what he needs, or what he hath not, lends? Or wanting aid himself, and to another sends? His strength? ’Tis dust:—His pleasure? cause of pain: His hope? False courtier:—Youth or beauty? Brittle: Intreaty? Fond:—Repentance? Late and vain: Just recompense? The world were all too little: Thy love? He hath no title to a tittle: Hell’s force? In vain her furies hell shall gather: His servants, kinsmen, or his children rather? His child (if good) shall judge; (if bad) shall curse his father. His life? That brings him to his end, and leaves him: His end? That leaves him to begin his woe: His goods? What good is this which so deceives him? His gods of wood? Their feet, alas! are slow To go to help, which must be helped to go: Honours, great worth? Ah! little worth they be Unto their owners:—Wit? That makes him see He wanted wit, who thought he had it, wanting Thee.
Should any to himself for safety fly? The way to save himself (if any were) Is to fly from himself. Should he rely Upon the promise of his wife? What there, What can he see, but that he most may fear, A syren sweet to death? Upon his friends? Who what he needs, or what he hath not, lends? Or wanting aid himself, and to another sends? His strength? ’Tis dust:—His pleasure? cause of pain: His hope? False courtier:—Youth or beauty? Brittle: Intreaty? Fond:—Repentance? Late and vain: Just recompense? The world were all too little: Thy love? He hath no title to a tittle: Hell’s force? In vain her furies hell shall gather: His servants, kinsmen, or his children rather? His child (if good) shall judge; (if bad) shall curse his father. His life? That brings him to his end, and leaves him: His end? That leaves him to begin his woe: His goods? What good is this which so deceives him? His gods of wood? Their feet, alas! are slow To go to help, which must be helped to go: Honours, great worth? Ah! little worth they be Unto their owners:—Wit? That makes him see He wanted wit, who thought he had it, wanting Thee.
In print by 1888 AD · industrial
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Meaning not yet available
An individual explanation has not yet been added. We do not substitute a generic description for an interpretation of these particular words.
Begin with source-checked readings and explanations ↗Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Giles Fletcher (identity unresolved)
Attribution: unknown - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1888 AD · industrial
In print by 1888: recorded in A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888) (1888 AD)
Page 514 · printed citation: Giles Fletcher · subject: SAFETY—SAVING
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.