LXIII. William Drummond. For the Prodigal. Edward Farr, ed. 1847. Select Poetry, Chiefly Sacred, of the Reign of King James the First

Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of King James the First. 1847.

For the Prodigal

LXIII. William Drummond


I COUNTRIES changed, new pleasures out to finde,
But, ah! for pleasure I did find new paine:
Enchanting pleasure so did reason blinde,
That father’s loue and words I scorn’d as vaine,
For tables rich, for bed, for following traine	5
Of careful seruants to observe my minde:
These heards I keep my fellowes are assign’d,
Rocke is my bed, and herbes my life sustaine.
Now while I famine feele, feare worser harmes.
Father and Lord, I turne; thy loue, yet great,	10
My faults will pardon, pittie mine estate.

This, when an aged oake had spred its armes,
Thought the lost childe, while as the heardes he led,
Not far off on the ackornes wilde then fed.