The works of man tend, one and all, As needs they must, from great to small, And vanity absorbs at length The monuments of human strength. It pass'd unnotic'd, as the bird That cleaves the yielding air unheard, Not that I deem, or mean to call That seem'd to promise no such prize; And made almost without a meaning, That Solomon has wisely spoken : "A threefold cord is not soon broken." FROM A LETTER TO THE REV. MR. NEWTON Late Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth [Dated May 28, 1782.] SAYS the pipe to the snuff-box, I can't understand Do but see what a pretty contemplative air I give to the company-pray do but note 'emYou would think that the wise men of Greece were all there, Or, at least, would suppose them the wise men of Gotham. My breath is as sweet as the breath of blown roses, While you are a nuisance where'er you appear; There is nothing but sniv'ling and blowing of noses, Such a noise as turns any man's stomach to hear. Then lifting his lid in a delicate way, And op'ning his mouth with a smile quite engaging The box in reply was heard plainly to say, What a silly dispute is this we are waging! If you have a little of merit to claim, You may thank the sweet-smelling Virginian weed And I, if I seem to deserve any blame, The before-mentioned drug in apology plead. Thus neither the praise nor the blame is our own, We are vehicles, not of tobacco alone, But of any thing else they may choose to put in us THE COLUBRIAD [1782.] CLOSE by the threshold of a door nail'd fast, At the three kittens cast a careless eye; Not much concern'd to know what they did there; Caus'd me to stop, and to exclaim "what s this?" A viper, long as Count de Grasse's queue. Darting it full against a kitten's nose; Who, having never seen, in field or house, Only projecting, with attention due, Her whisker'd face, she ask'd him, "who are you Ev'n there I found him, there the full-grown cat ON FRIENDSHIP. Amicitia nisi inter bonos esse non potest.... Cicero [1782.] WHAT virtue can we name, or grace, But men unqualified and base Will boast it their possession? Profusion apes the noble part Of liberality of heart, And dulness of discretion. But as the gem of richest cost Some will pronounce me too severe- ON FRIENDSHIP. I will proceed to mark the shelves, Youth, unadmonish'd by a guide, For who, but learns, with riper years, But here again a danger lies We should, when undeceiv'd, conclude A mere Utopian pleasure. An acquisition, rather rare, Nor should it seem distressful, If either on forbidden ground, No friendship will abide the test And mean self-love ereciou Nor such, as may awhile subsist "Twixt sensualist and sensualist, For vicious ends connected. Who hopes a friend, should have a heart, And ready on occasion To show the virtue that he seeks; For 'tis an union that bespeaks A just reciprocation. 107 |