solicitor and attorney-general, was knighted, and chosen speaker of the Irish House of Commons, in opposition to the Catholic interest. Two works which he published as the fruits of his observation in that kingdom, have attached considerable importance to his name in the legal and political history of Ireland1. On his return to England he sat in parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyne, and had assurances of being appointed chief justice of England, when his death was suddenly occasioned by apoplexy. He married, while in Ireland, Eleanor, a daughter of Lord Audley, by whom he had a daughter, who was married to Ferdinand Lord Hastings, afterwards Earl of Huntingdon. Sir John's widow turned out an enthusiast and a prophetess. A volume of her ravings was published in 1649, for which the revolutionary government sent her to the Tower, and to Bethlehem hospital. THE VANITY OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE. FROM NOSCE TEIPSUM, OR A POEM ON THE IMMORTALITY OF WHY did my parents send me to the schools, 1 The works are, "A discovery of the causes why Ireland was never subdued till the beginning of his majesty's reign," and "Reports of cases adjudged in the king's courts in Ireland." What is this knowledge but the sky-stol'n fire, For which the thief1 still chain'd in ice doth sit? And which the poor rude satyr did admire, And needs would kiss, but burnt his lips with it. In fine, what is it but the fiery coach 2 Which the youth sought, and sought his death withal, Or the boy's wings which, when he did approach The sun's hot beams, did melt and let him fall? And yet, alas! when all our lamps are burn'd, What can we know, or what can we discern, When reason's lamp, that, like the sun in sky, How can we hope, that through the eye and ear, 1 Prometheus.-2 Phaeton- Icarus. So might the heir whose father hath in play The wits that div'd most deep and soar'd most high, Seeking man's powers, have found his weakness such; Skill comes so slow, and time so fast doth fly, We learn so little and forget so much. For this the wisest of all moral men Said, "he knew nought but that he did not know." And the great mocking master mock'd not then, When he said truth was buried deep below. As spiders, touch'd, seek their web's inmost part; As men seek towns when foes the country burn: If aught can teach us aught, affliction's looks She within lists my ranging mind hath brought, I know my body's of so frail a kind, I know my soul hath power to know all things, I know I'm one of nature's little kings, I know We seek to know the moving of each sphere, For this few know themselves; for merchants broke And while the face of outward things we find Yet if affliction once her wars begin, And threat the feebler sense with sword and fire, THAT THE SOUL IS MORE THAN A PERFECTION OR ARE they not senseless, then, that think the soul What is it, then, that doth the sense accuse Could any pow'rs of sense the Roman move, Sense, circumstance; she doth the substance view: Sense sees the bark, but she the life of trees; Sense hears the sounds, but she the concord true. |