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Of this fair volume which we “world” do name, If we the sheets and leaves could turn with care, Of him who it corrects and did it frame, We clear might read the art and wisdom rare, Find out his power, which wildest powers doth tame, His providence extending everywhere, His justice, which proud rebels doth not spare, In every page—no period of the same. But silly we, like foolish children, rest Well pleas’d with colour’d vellum, leaves of gold, Fair dangling ribbands—leaving what is best; On the great writer’s sense ne’er taking hold; Or if by chance we stay our minds on aught, It is some picture on the margin wrought.

Of this fair volume which we “world” do name, If we the sheets and leaves could turn with care, Of him who it corrects and did it frame, We clear might read the art and wisdom rare, Find out his power, which wildest powers doth tame, His providence extending everywhere, His justice, which proud rebels doth not spare, In every page—no period of the same. But silly we, like foolish children, rest Well pleas’d with colour’d vellum, leaves of gold, Fair dangling ribbands—leaving what is best; On the great writer’s sense ne’er taking hold; Or if by chance we stay our minds on aught, It is some picture on the margin wrought.

Approximate author period: c. 1617 AD · renaissance

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Attribution & collection notes
Author or tradition
William Drummond
Attribution: attributed
Country attributed
Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin.
Historical period
Approximate author period: c. 1617 AD · renaissance
author lifetime midpoint (1585–1649)
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken.
Recorded source
A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888) (1888 AD)

Page 687 · printed citation: William Drummond · subject: WORLD

A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.