University of Virginia Library

The knot of friends, the club, the social hour,
What thought, what time, what bus'ness they devour!
The better purpose break, the better scheme
Defeat, and substitute an idle dream.
The stream of wit, and talk, and repartee,
Outrun calm reason and philosophy;
Good sense o'er-run, and, as it bounds along,
Covers and drowns a sense of right and wrong.