The works of Mr. John Cleveland containing his poems, orations, epistles, collected into one volume, with the life of the author.

On a little Gentleman profoundly Learned.

MAkes Nature Maps? Since that in thee Sh'has drawn an University: Or strives she in so small a piece, To sum the Arts and Sciences? Once she writ only Text-hand, when She scribled Gyants, and no Men: But now in her decrepit Years She dashes Dwarfs in Characters, And makes one single Farthing bear The Creed, Commandments, and Lords Prayer: Would she turn Art and imitate Monte-rigos flying Gnat? Would she the Golden Legend shut Within the Cloyster of a Nut? Or else a Musket-Bullet rear Into a vast and mighty Spear? Or pen an Eagle in the Caul Of a slender Nightingale? Or shews the Pigmies can create Not too little but too great:

How comes it that she thus converts So small a Totum, and great Parts? Strives she now to turn awry The quick Scent of Philosophy? How so little matter can So monstrous big a Form contain? What shall we call (it would be known) This Gyant and this Dwarf in one? His Age is blaz'd in silver Hairs, His Limbs still cry out want of Years. So small a Body in a Cage, May chuse a spacious Hermitage. So great a Soul doth fret and fume At th'narrow World for want of Room. Strange Conjunction! Here is grown A Mole-hill and the Alps in one. In th'self same Action we may call Nature both Thrist and Prodigal.