VANITY. From Herbert

The fleet Astron'mer travels o'er The Spheres with his sagacious Mind, Their Stations views from Door to Door, As if to purchase he design'd: Thro' all their circling Orbs he goes, And all their mazy Wandrings knows.

The nimble Diver with his Side Cuts thro' the working Waves his Way, To fetch the Pearl which GOD did hide On purpose from the View of Day, That He might save his Life, and hers Whose Pride the costly Danger wears.

The subtle Chymist can divest Gay Nature of her various Hue; Stript of her thousand Forms, confest She stands, and naked to his View: At Distance other Suitors stand; Her inmost Stores wait his Command.

What has not Man sought out and found, But GOD? Who yet his glorious Law Plants in us; mellowing the Ground With Show'rs and Frost, with Love and Awe. Poor, busy, foolish Man! For Death In Fire, and Air, and Sea, and Land, Thro' Heav'n above, and Earth beneath Thou seek'st; but missest Life at hand.