A collection of miscellanies consisting of poems, essays, discourses, and letters occasionally written / by John Norris ...

The Defiance.

I.

WEll Fortune, now (if e're you've shewn What you had in your power to do, My wandring love at length had fix'd on one, One who might please even unconstant you. Me of this one you have deprived On whom I stay'd my Soul, in whom I lived, You've shewn your power, and I resign, But now I'll shew thee Fortune, what's in mine.

II.

I will not, no I will not grieve, My tears within their banks shall stand, Do what thou wilt, I am resolv'd to Live, Since thee I can't, I will my self command. I will my passions so controul That neither they, nor thou shalt hurt my Soul, I'll run so counter to thy will, Thy good I'll relish, but not feel thy Ill.

III.

I felt the shaft that last was sent, But now thy Quiver I desy. I fear no Pain from thee or Discontent, Clad in the Armour of Philosophy. Thy last seiz'd on me out of guard, Ʋnarm'd too far within thy reach I dar'd, But now the field I'll dearly sell, I'm now (at least by thee) Impassible.

IV.

My Soul now soars high and sublime Beyond the Spring of thy best bow, Like those who so long on high mountains climb Till they see rain, and thunder hear below. In vain thou'lt spend thy darts on me, My Fort's too strong for thy Artillery, Thy closest aim won't touch my mind, Here's all thy gain, still to be thought more blind.