cxciv LIFE OF 



As in fortune's worst distress 

 To believe thy promises ; 

 Which so brave a change foretold, 



Such a stream of happiness, 

 Such mountain hopes of glitt'ring gold, 

 Such honours, friendships, offices, 

 In love and arms so great success ; 

 That I e'en hugg'd myself with the conceit, 

 Was myself party in the cheat, 

 And in my very bosom laid 

 That fatal Hope by which I was betray'd, 

 Thinking myself already rich and great : 

 And in that foolish thought despis'd 

 Th' advice of those who out of love advis'd ; 

 As I'd foreseen what they did not foresee, 



A torrent of felicity, 

 And rudely laugh'd at those, who pitying wept for me. 



But of this expectation, when't came to't, 



What was the fruit ? 



In sordid robes poor disappointment came, 

 Attended by her handmaids, grief and shame ; 

 No wealth, no titles, no friend could I see, 



For they still court prosperity, 

 Nay, what was worst of what mischance could do, 



My dearest love forsook me too ; 

 My pretty love, with whom, had she been true, 



Even in banishment, 



I could have liv'd most happy and content. 

 Her sight which nourish't me withdrew. 

 I then, although too late, perceiv'd 

 I was by flattering Hope deceiv'd, 

 And call'd for it t' expostulate 

 The treachery and foul deceit : 

 But it was then quite fled away, 

 And gone some other to betray, 

 Leaving me in a state 

 By much more desolate, 

 Than if when first attack't by fate, 



I had submitted there 

 And made my courage yield unto despair. 

 For Hope, like cordials, to our wrong 

 Does but our miseries prolong, 



Whilst yet our vitals daily waste, 

 And not supporting life, but pain, 

 Call their false friendships back again, 

 And unto death, grim death, abandon us at last. 



In me, false Hope, in me alone, 



Thou thine own treach'ry hast outdone : 



For chance, perhaps, may have befriended 



Some one th' hast laboured to deceive 

 With what by thee was ne'er intended, 



Nor in thy pow'r to give : 

 But me thou hast deceived in all, as well 

 Possible, as impossible, 

 And the most sad example made 

 Of all that ever were betray'd. 

 But thou hast taught me wisdom yet, 



Henceforth to hope no more 



Than I see reason for, 

 A precept I shall ne'er forget : 



