 | Songs, comic and satyrical |  |
168
MEDIOCRITY.
In a neighbourly way, with an honest man's fame,
Unoffending, I hope to succeed;
Attend if you please, if you're pleas'd with a name,
Imprimis, let Probity lead.
Unoffending, I hope to succeed;
Attend if you please, if you're pleas'd with a name,
Imprimis, let Probity lead.
Be careful to keep on Humility's side,
Nor ever lose Gratitude's view;
Obey not the envy of Pique nor of Pride,
Nor pilfer from Merit its due.
Nor ever lose Gratitude's view;
Obey not the envy of Pique nor of Pride,
Nor pilfer from Merit its due.
Be assur'd that Esteem is a noble estate,—
Let not a fond smile make you proud;
Nor rail at men merely because they are great,
Be not dup'd by the roar of a croud.
Let not a fond smile make you proud;
Nor rail at men merely because they are great,
Be not dup'd by the roar of a croud.
Shun Flatttry's phrase, let not Promise allure,
Nor dangle for dinners in taste;
Forget not old friends, tho' perhaps they are poor,
Nor make new acquaintance in haste,
Nor dangle for dinners in taste;
Forget not old friends, tho' perhaps they are poor,
Nor make new acquaintance in haste,
Oh! suffer not Interest, Friendship to wean,
Accept not Servility's treat;
Nor silently witness Iniquity's scen
But open at once on Deceit.
Accept not Servility's treat;
Nor silently witness Iniquity's scen
But open at once on Deceit.
Remember yourself, spare the shame of your friend,
Nor carry your wit to excess;
With sprit the cause of the absent defend,
And shrink not your arm from distress.
Nor carry your wit to excess;
With sprit the cause of the absent defend,
And shrink not your arm from distress.
Oppress not the low, nor be high people's slave,
Nor ever despair nor be vain;
Howe'er inconsistent the world may behave,
Mediocrity ever maintain.
Nor ever despair nor be vain;
Howe'er inconsistent the world may behave,
Mediocrity ever maintain.
His views let Ambition extend o'er the state,
Let Avarice gluttonize wealth;
No Nabobs I wish for, I wou'd not be great,
I only ask humbly for health.
Let Avarice gluttonize wealth;
No Nabobs I wish for, I wou'd not be great,
I only ask humbly for health.
169
How chearful, in health, will my latter days pass,
Unenvy'd, unenvying live;
With the friends I have prov'd, and my fav'rite lass,
And practice the precepts I give.
Unenvy'd, unenvying live;
With the friends I have prov'd, and my fav'rite lass,
And practice the precepts I give.
| Songs, comic and satyrical | |