The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse :: :: University of Virginia Library

Shall such celestial Talent—glorious Gift!
Blasphemers blast? or Demon set adrift?
Such Pow'r, superior—such exclusive Grace,
Conferr'd alone on Man's immortal Race!
Shall He disgrace this Grace? deprave this Pow'r?
Let Folly frustrate? or let Vice devour?
Let intellectual traffic—Souls exchange—
O'er all the Earth, o'er every Ocean, range,
To barter nought but flattery, oaths, and lies,
Instead of pious words, and precepts wise?
Instead of articles for Christians' use,
What Deists plan, and Infidels produce?
Instead of merchandise, most rich, and rare,
Truth's, Reason's, Wisdom's, and Religion's, ware;
Things in which Children, Dupes, and Ideots, trade,
Where Atheists offer what mere Sophists made?
Such vehicles, and vessels, fully fraught,
With toys which Wits contrived, and Villains wrought?
The flattering compliments that first give rise
To every Folly, Vanity, and Vice—
False Commerce carried on—smoothe Statesmen's Trade;
Which, deeply, Cities—Courts—and Camps—degrade;
Where, dress'd in outward white, Dark Demons lurk
In secret carrying on their wicked work.
And, first, the fond Imagination teach,
To utter specious tropes in suasive speech,
The substance all abominable Lies,
Wrapp'd up in silky, soft, and gilt, disguise—
The Courtier's passport to be call'd polite;
While flattering others, feeling Self-delight.
Where crafty fawning, subtle, Sycophant,
Looks well to Self in all his cunning cant.
The courtly Captain, his fulsome phrase,
Seeks round for smiles that speak some silent praise—
Half-Wits, for Puns—half-Poets, monstrous tropes—
Vile Orators, for nonsense, view like hopes—
Ev'n vulgar Fops for fresh-coin'd curse and oath
Expect applause from blackguard Apes in both.
But whether these be deem'd, in Camps, or Courts,
Polite accomplishments, or pleasing sports,

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Or counted, in the Schools, sure signs of Sense,
Of Genius—Learning—Wit—or Eloquence—
Whate'er weak Mortals may such Converse call,
'Tis, clearly, Folly—Mischief—Madness—all!

Should Ships be freighted from the eastern Capes
With nought but Peacocks, Parrots, Monkeys, Apes;
Wild Beasts, or Cannibals, compose their spoils
From Afric's Coasts, or late discover'd Isles—
Or, from Columbian Land import, alone,
Each deadly Drug, or poisoning Simple, known;
And, with an ignorant, or an impish, Mind,
Disseminate the mass amongst Mankind.
Such Trade would stand all social Love's reverse,
Prove each Community's, and Merchant's curse;
And while the World such Nostrums could supply
All Health must yield, all Life at length must, die!
The Masters must be counted Satan's Tools,
The Traders, Vanity's, and Vice's, Fools;
Much more such Fools unfolding all their sails,
Regardless of fierce gusts, and fickle gales;
With all their valued Stock each Vessel stored,
Friends—Fortune—Family—Themselves—aboard!
Yet wilder still must those weak Minds appear,
Which, swift to speak, but ever slow to hear,
This wonderous faculty of Soul exert,
To their own ruin, and all others' hurt;
While on the passing breeze of every breath
They launch their everlasting Life, or Death!
Then let not Passion—Pride—or Folly, preach,
But faithful Reason, and Religion, teach—
Let Reason exercise full strength, and skill,
The duteous Offices of Life to fill—
Each word well weigh, each sentence well regard,
To win goodwill, and Conscience kind award!
And let Religion use her utmost might,
To govern Passion, Pride, and Appetite;
Conscious that every secret, silent, thought,
And idle word must be to judgment brought;
And, what should waken Man's reflections more
The Judge is alway standing at the door!

Who then will thus pervert the pow'rs of Speech,
While words to Heav'n will rise! to Hell, may reach!
That faculty no subject Creature shares,
The privilege to speak with God by pray'rs;
Or, when rich Faith and Hope Affection raise,
Love pour before His footstool thanks and praise!

Shall Man, the sole proprietor of Words,
Affix no meaning more than mocking Birds?
Or throw that talent, like a toy, away,
In ideot squabble, or in childish play?
Will He presume to wate that wonderous dow'r,
In wild profusion, every waking hour?
To basest purposes that blessing press,
For Self-destruction, or for Friends' distress?
Will He, who wishes to be deem'd a God,
In Fools', or Madmen's footsteps daily plod?
With Flattery's trick Simplicity entice,
To grovel in the grossest sinks of Vice?
With cursed Scandal, or delirious Lie,
A Neighbour's noblest interests destroy?
With oaths and blasphemies blend every theme,
In daily converse, and in nightly dream;
Or laugh o'er tales obscene, and impious jests,
In bold defiance of Heav'n's high behests?

Shall Sense and Reason mutual strength unite,
To prove rash Folly has a filial right?
Acquireless Fancy, and instinctive Taste,
With Wit, intuitive, their talents waste,
To gratify Caprice's whiffling will?
Make Affectation more affected still?
Religion's lovely face with umber blur,
Till ugliest hypocrites appear like Her!

Shall Genius lay her heav'n-strung Lyre aside
For brawling brazen Tube, to trumpet Pride?
Exchange pure pathos for trite fustian strain,
To render Vanity herself more vain?
Forsake the simple for elaborate lays,
To puff off Policy with Honour's praise?
Obtrude ten thousand epithets in Rhyme,
To make mean Ostentation seem sublime?
Deck Vice in splendid trope, and simile,
To make Her, heavenly Virtue! look like Thee?
Put on sweet Charity's celestial stole,
To hide Self-love, and littleness of Soul?
Spite, Hatred, Malice, cautiously conceal
With warm Benevolence's lucid veil?
Stripe Affectation o'er with rainbow-dyes,
And clothe proud Arrogance with Angels' guise?
Or Poetic-bullion smear o'er metals base,
Till burnish'd Cunning wears bright Candour's face?
Transform the Serpent to the faithful Dove,
By making Simulation smile like Love?

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With Wisdom's lustre make Deception shine,
And dress frail Flesh with attributes Divine;
Shrouding with saintly cloke Satanic leav'n,
And cover Guilt with holiness like Heav'n?
'Twere offering mouldering Mummies pure perfumes—
'Twere painting, varnishing, and gilding, Tombs—
'Twere scattering Amaranths on funeral Biers;
Or hanging Diamonds on an Idol's ears—
'Twere worse—'twere worshipping an earthly Clod,
With adoration only due to God!!!