ODE LIII

1

Be not Deceived: I know it by my owne.
Great Bodies are great Burdens; and incline
More to the Earth: participating in
A larger Measure, what proportion
Soever please your Sence;
Bignes extenuates
Its proper Faculties, with weights;
And Smaller Bodies, have more Excellence.

2

Like to the Servile Drudge, some noble man
Has placed, in a great Castle; and you come
To see the Building; and find everie Roome
Useles to Him; an End is All he can
Manage; or some remote
Parlour, his Familye
May comprehend; whilest others lye
Unswept, till the States come, and wast and rott.

3

Soe am I, in my Selfe; whilst I admire
Lesse Bodies; where a man is sett soe near
In all his Parts, contracted as it were
To a Conveniencie; and the Entire
House, he keeps warme, and Full,
With his owne proper Store.
Each office, Hee with Ease, lookes ore;
And lives to use it All: in noe Roome Dull.

4

Reallie, (it may be my owne Disgrace
But) I am Confident, wee bigger Men
Have Faculties less knitt, lesse able, then
Weaker Appearances. I doe not praise
Meer Littlenes; nor from
All Larger, derogate;
But by my owne I see, and say't.
I could Lye warmer, in a lesser Roome.