Of the Cock and Pretious Stone

1:01. OF THE COCK AND PRETIOUS STONE.
Stout Chanticleer three times aloud proclaims
Day's Signal Victory ore Night's vanquish'd Flames:
As oft the mighty Lyons are affrighted
With his shrill Notes, while others are delighted.
In a short Coat of Feathers warm as Furs,
In Boots drawn up, and Gilded Spurs,
(Of old the Valiant Cock the Eagle Knighted)
He from Proud Roosts, high as the Thatch descends,
His Wives, his Concubines; and Fair Race attends.
Scaling a sordid Mountain, straight he found
A Star in Dust, a sparkling Diamond.
Then spake the Cock: Stone of the whitest Water,
Whom Time, nor Fire can wast, nor Anvil batter;
If thee some skilful Jeweller had sold,
Adorned thus with purest Gold,
To a fond Lover: He, his Love to flatter,
Would swear his Ladies Eys out-shine thy Raies
(Brightest of Gems) although she look nine wayes.
Thou Emblem of vain Learning may'st adorn
The Wisest, but give me a Barley Corn.
Let meagre Scholars wast their Brains and Tapers,
In quest of thee, while they turn anxious Papers,
Let me have Pleasure, and my Belly full;
Far better is an empty Scull
Than a Head stuff'd with Melancholy Vapours.
Lye still obscure; I'll be to Nature kind;
My Body I'll not Starve, to Feed my Mind.
Moral.
Voluptuous Men Philosophy despise;
Down with all Learning the Arm'd Soldier cryes.
On Gleab, and Cattell, greedy Farmers look;
And Marchants only prize their Counting Book. [more info]