No moralifts then, righteous to excess,
Wou'd show fair Virtue in so black a dress,
That they, like boys, who fome feign'd fpright array,
First from the spectre fly themselves away :
No preachers in the terrible delight,

But chufe to win by reafon, not affright;
Not conjurers like, in fire and brimstone dwell,
And draw each moving argument from hell.

No more our fage interpreters of laws,
Wou'd fatten on obfcurities, and flaws,
But rather nobly careful of their trust,
Strive to wipe off the long-contracted duft,
And be, like HARDWICKE, guardians of the just.

No more applause wou'd on ambition wait,
And laying waste the world be counted great,
But one good-natur'd act more praises gain,
Than armies overthrown, and thousands flain;
No more wou'd brutal rage disturb our peace,
But envy, hatred, war, and difcord ceafe;
Our own and others good each hour employ,
And all things fmile with univerfal joy;
Virtue with Happiness her confort join'd,
Wou'd regulate and bless each human mind,
And man be what his Maker first defign'd.

}

}

The

Or, The Origin of CARDS. A Tale.

Addrefs'd to the Honourable Mifs CARPENTER.

HOU, whom to counsel is to praise,

ΤΗ

With candor view these friendly lays,

Nor, from the vice of gaming free,
Believe the fatire points at thee;
Who truth and worth betimes can't prize,
Nor yet too sprightly to be wife,
But hear this tale of ancient time,

Nor think it vain, tho' told in rhyme."

Elate with wide extended pow'r,
Sworn rivals from the natal hour,
AV'RICE and SLOTH, with hoftile art
Contended long for woman's heart;
She fond of wealth, afraid of toil,
Still shifted the capricious fmile;
By turns, to each the heart was fold,

Now bought with ease, and now with gold;
Scarce either grafp the sov'reign sway,
When chance revers'd the profp'rous day.

M 4

The

The doubtful ftrife was ftill renew'd,
Each baffled oft, but ne'er fubdu'd;
When Av❜RICE fhew'd the glitt'ring prize,
And hopes and fears began to rife,

SLOTH fhed on ev'ry bufy fenfe

The gentle balm of indolence.

When SLOTH had fcreen'd, with artful night,

The foft pavilion of delight;

Stern Av'RICE, with reproachful frown,
Would scatter thorns amongst her down.

Thus each by turns the realm controul'd,
Which each in turn defpair'd to hold;
At length unable to contend,
They join to chufe a common friend,
To clofe in love the long debate,
Such love, as mutual fears create;
A friend they chofe, a friend to both,
Of AV'RICE born, and nurs'd by SLOTH;
An artful nymph, whose reign began
When Wisdom ceas'd to dwell with man;
In Wisdom's aweful robes array'd,
She rules o'er politicks and trade;

And by the name of CUNNING known,
Makes wealth, and fame, and pow'r her own.
In queft of CUNNING then they rove
O'er all the windings of the grove,
Where twining boughs their fhade unite,
For CUNNING ever flies the light;

At

At length thro' maze perplex'd with maze,
Through tracts confus'd, and private ways,
With finking hearts and weary feet,
They gain their fav'rite's dark retreat;
There, watchful at the gate, they find
SUSPICION, with her eyes behind;
And wild ALARM, awaking, blows
The trump that shakes the world's repofe.

The guests well known, falute the guard,
The hundred gates are foon unbarr'd ;
Through half the gloomy cave they prefs,
And reach the wily queen's recefs;
The wily queen disturb'd, they view,
With schemes to fly, though none pursue;

And, in perpetual care to hide,

What none will ever feek, employ'd.

"Great queen (they pray'd) our feuds compose,

"And let us never more be foes,"

"This hour (the cries) your difcord ends,

"Henceforth, be SLOTH and Av'RICE friends;
"Henceforth, with equal pride, prepare
"To rule at once the captive fair.”

Th' attentive pow'rs in filence heard,
Nor utter'd what they hop'd or fear'd,
But fearch in vain the dark decree,
For CUNNING loves obfcurity;
Nor wou'd fhe foon her laws explain,
For CUNNING ever joys to pain.

She

She then before their wond'ring eyes, Bid piles of painted paper rife;

"Search now thefe heaps, (fhe cries) here find

"Fit emblem of your pow'r combin'd." The heap to Av'RICE first she gave,

Who foon defcry'd her darling Knave:

And SLOTH, ere Envy long cou'd fting,
With joyful eyes beheld a King.

"Thefe gifts (faid CUNNING) bear away,
"Sure engines of defpotick sway ;
"These charms difpenfe o'er all the ball,
"Secure to rule where'er they fall.
"The love of cards, let SLOTH infufe,
"The love of money foon ensues ;
"The ftrong defire shall ne'er decay,
"Who plays to win, fhall win to play;

"The breast, where Love had plann'd his reign,
"Shall burn, unquench'd, with luft of gain;
"And all the charms that wit can boast,

"In dreams of better luck be loft.”

Thus neither innocent, nor gay,

The useless hours fhall fleet away,
While TIME O'erlooks the trivial strife,
And, fcoffing, fhakes the fands of life;
Till the wan maid, whofe early bloom
The vigils of quadrille confume;
Exhaufted, by the pangs of play,
TO SLOTH and AV'RICE falls a prey.

To