Exhausted, has had genius to supply; And, studious of mutation still, discard For monstrous novelty and strange disguise. And comforts cease. Dress drains our cellar dry, And keeps our larder lean; puts out our fires; And introduces hunger, frost, and wo, Where peace and hospitality might reign. What man that lives, and that knows how to live, A form as splendid as the proudest there, A man o' th' town dines late, but soon enough, T' insure a side-box station at half price. You think, perhaps, so delicate his dress, He picks clean teeth, and, busy as he seems The rout is folly's circle, which she draws There we grow early gray, but never wise; There form connexions, but acquire no friend; Solicit pleasure, hopeless of success; Waste youth in occupations only fit For second childhood, and devote old age To sports which only childhood could excuse. less?) Make just reprisals; and, with cringe and shrug, And bow obsequious, hide their hate of her. All catch the frenzy, downward from her grace, Whose flambeaux flash against the morning skies, And gild our chamber ceilings as they pass, Is hackney'd home unlacquey'd; who, in haste wives, On fortune's velvet altar off ring up Their last poor pittance-fortune, most severe Of goddesses yet known, and costlier far Than all that held their routs in Juno's heav'n. So fare we in this prison house the world. And 'tis a fearful spectacle to see So many maniacs dancing in their chains. They gaze upon the links that hold them fast With eyes of anguish, execrate their lot, Then shake them in despair, and dance again! Now basket up the family of plagues Of honour, perjury, corruption, frauds By tricks and lies as num'rous and as keen Then cast them, closely bundled, ev'ry brat And gibbetted as fast as catchpole claws Can seize the slipp'ry prey: unties the knot Of union, and converts the sacred band |