1.

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 mov'd, in which the world 
     And all her train were hurl'd; 
The doting lover in his quaintest strain 
      Did there complain, 
Near him, his lute, his fancy, and his flights, 
      Wit's sour delights, 
With gloves, and knots the silly snares of pleasure 
      Yet his dear treasure 
All scatter'd lay, while he his eyes did pour 
      Upon a flower.

          2.

The darksome statesman hung with weights and woe 
Like a thick midnight fog mov'd 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 digg'd the mole, and lest his ways be found 
      Work'd 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 rain'd about him blood and tears, but he 
      Drank them as free.

          3.

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 hugg'd each one his pelf, 
The downright epicure plac'd heav'n in sense 
     And scorn'd 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.

          4.

Yet some, who all this while did weep and sing, 
And sing, and weep, soar'd 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 whisper'd thus, 
"This Ring the Bridegroom did for none provide 
     But for his bride."