To His Son, Vincent Corbet

To His Son, Vincent Corbet

Original Text
Richard Corbet, Certain Elegant Poems (1647).
1What I shall leave thee none can tell,
2But all shall say I wish thee well:
3I wish thee, Vin, before all wealth,
4Both bodily and ghostly health;
5Nor too much wealth, nor wit, come to thee,
6So much of either may undo thee.
7I wish thee learning, not for show,
8Enough for to instruct and know,
9Not such as gentlemen require
10To prate at table or at fire.
11I wish thee all thy mother's graces,
12Thy father's fortunes, and his places.
13I wish thee friends, and one at court,
14Not to build on, but support,
15To keep thee, not in doing many
16Oppressions, but from suffering any.
17I wish thee peace in all thy ways,
18Nor lazy nor contentious days;
19And when thy soul and body part,
20As innocent as now thou art.
Publication Start Year
1647
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
2RP.1.295; RPO 1996-2000.
Form
couplets