Nor need you blush (though sometimes your designs
May shun the light) at your designs on heaven:
Sole point! where over-bashful is your blame.
Are you not wife?—You know you are: Yet hear 1365
One truth, amid your numerous schemes, mislaid,
Or overlook'd, or thrown afide, if seen
"Our schemes to plan by this world, or the next,
"Is the fole difference between wife and fool."
All worthy men will weigh you in this scale;
What wonder then, if they pronounce you light?
Is their efteen alone not worth your care?
Accept my fimple scheme of common sense :
Thus, fave your fame, and make two worlds your own.
The world replies not ;-but the world perfifts; 1375
And puts the cause off to the longest day,
Planning evasions for the day of doom.
So far, at that re-hearing, from redress,
They then turn witnesses against themselves:
Hear that, Lorenzo! nor be wife to-morrow.
Hafte, hafte! A man, by nature, is in hafte;
For who fhall anfwer for another hour?
'Tis highly prudent, to make one fure friend;
And that thou canst not do, this fide the fkies.
Ye fons of earth! (nor willing to be more !) 1385 Since verfe you think from prieftcraft fomewhat free, ·Thus, in an age fo gay, the Mufe plain truths (Truths, which, at church, you might have heard in profe) Has ventur'd into light; well-pleas'd the verse Should be forgot, if you the truths retain; S 2
And crown her with your welfare, not your praise.
But praise the need not fear : I see my fate;
And headlong leap, like Curtius, down the gulph.
Since many an ample volume, mighty tome,
Muft die; and die unwept; O thou minute,
Devoted page! go forth among thy foes;
Go, nobly proud of martyrdom for truth,
And die a double death: mankind, incens'd,
Denies thee long to live: nor fhalt thou reft
When thou art dead; in Stygian shades arraign'd 1480
By Lucifer, as traitor to his throne;
And bold blafphemer of his friend-the world;
The world, whofe legions coft him flender pay,
And volunteers around his banner swarm ;
Prudent, as Pruffia, in her zeal for Gaul!
"Are all, then, fools?" Lorenzo cries.-Yes, all, But fuch as hold this doctrine (new to thee); "The mother of true wifdom is the will"; The nobleft intellect, a fool without it.
World-wisdom much has done, and more may do, 1410
In arts and sciences, in wars and peace;
But art and fcience, like thy wealth, will leave thee,
And make thee twice a beggar at thy death.
This is the most indulgence can afford ;-
"Thy wifdom all can do, but-make thee wife.”
Nor think this cenfure is fevere on thee :
Satan, thy mafter, I dare call a dunce.
THE COMPLAINT; or, NIGHT THOUGHTS.
TNIGHTT. Of Life, Death, and Immortality
II. Of Time, Death, and Friendship 19
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