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 | The complete works, poetry and prose, of the Rev. Edward Young prefixed, a life of the author, by John Doran ... With eight illustrations on steel, and a portrait. In two volumes |  |
There should it fail us, (it must fail us there,
If being fails,) more mournful riddles rise,
And Virtue vies with Hope in mystery.
Why Virtue? where its praise, its being fled?
Virtue is true self-interest pursued:
What true self-interest of quite mortal man?
To close with all that makes him happy here.
If Vice (as sometimes) is our friend on earth,
Then Vice is Virtue; 'tis our sovereign good.
In self-applause is Virtue's golden prize;
No self-applause attends it on thy scheme.
Whence self-applause? From conscience of the right.
And what is right, but means of happiness?
No means of happiness when Virtue yields:
That basis failing, falls the building too,
And lays in ruin every virtuous joy.
If being fails,) more mournful riddles rise,
And Virtue vies with Hope in mystery.
Why Virtue? where its praise, its being fled?
Virtue is true self-interest pursued:
What true self-interest of quite mortal man?
To close with all that makes him happy here.
If Vice (as sometimes) is our friend on earth,
Then Vice is Virtue; 'tis our sovereign good.
In self-applause is Virtue's golden prize;
No self-applause attends it on thy scheme.
Whence self-applause? From conscience of the right.
And what is right, but means of happiness?
No means of happiness when Virtue yields:
That basis failing, falls the building too,
And lays in ruin every virtuous joy.
| The complete works, poetry and prose, of the Rev. Edward Young prefixed, a life of the author, by John Doran ... With eight illustrations on steel, and a portrait. In two volumes | |