Ix. Things Dependent Or Not Dependent On Us Poem by Ellis Walker

In ev'ry thing thou undertak'st, 'tis fit
Thou in true judgement's scales examine it;
Weigh ev'ry circumstance, each consequence,
And usual accident arising thense.
And thus: suppose you for the Bath prepare,
Consider the disorders frequent there,
One throwing water in another's face,
Some railing, others justled from their place;
This bully giving, that receiving, blows,
Some picking pockets, other stealing cloaths.
With safety thus you the wish'd port may make,
If thus you preface what you undertake;
'I'll instantly go wash, resolv'd to do
What nature and my will incline me to.'
And thus in all things else, prepare thy mind,
And though, perhaps, thou some disturbance find,
When thou prepar'st to wash, unshock'd thou'lt say,
'This hindrance I expected in my way:
This I considered, when resolv'd to do
What nature and my will inclin'd me to.'
'This I resolv'd on.' For we needs must miss
Our purpos'd end, when vex'd at things like this.