The Poetical Works of John Langhorne :: :: University of Virginia Library

In spite of all the rusty fools
That clean old nonsense in the schools;
Nature, a mistress never coy,
Has wrote on all her works—Enjoy.
Shall we, then, starve, like Gideon's wife,
And die to save a makeweight's life?
No, friend of Nature, you disdain
So fair a hand shou'd work in vain.

But, good my Lord, make her your guide.
And err not on the other side:
Like her, in all you deign to do,
Be liberal, but be sparing too.

When sly Sir Toby, night by night,
With his dear bags regales his sight;
And conscience, reason, pity sleep,
Tho' virtue pine, tho' merit weep;
I see the keen reproaches fly
Indignant from your honest eye;
Each bounteous wish glows unconfin'd,
And your breast labours to be kind.

128

At this warm hour, my Lord, beware
The servile Flatterer's specious snare,
The fawning Sycophant, whose art
Marks the kind motions of the heart;
Each idle, each insidious knave,
That acts the graceful, wise, or brave.

With festive board, and social eye,
You've seen old Hospitality;
Mounted astride the moss-grown wall,
The genius of the ancient hall.
So reverend, with such courtly glee,
He serv'd your noble ancestry;
And turn'd the hinge of many a gate,
For Russel, Rous, Plantagenet.
No lying porter levied there,
His dues on all imported ware;
There, rang'd in rows, no liveried train
E'er begg'd their master's beef again;
No Flatterer's planetary face
Plied for a bottle, or a place,
Toad-eating France, and fiddling Rome
Kept their lean rascals starv'd at home.

“Thrice happy days!”

In this, 'tis true,
Old times were better than the new;

129

Yet some egregious faults you'll see
In ancient Hospitality.
See motley crowds, his roof beneath,
Put poor Society to death!
Priests, knights and 'squires debating wild,
On themes unworthy of a child;
'Till the strange compliment commences,
To praise their host, and lose their senses.

Go then, my Lord! keep open hall;
Proclaim your table free for all;
Go, sacrifice your time, your wealth,
Your patience, liberty, and health,
To such a thought-renouncing crew,
Such foes to care—e'en care for you.

“Heav'ns! and are these the plagues that wait
“Around the hospitable gate?—
“Let tenfold iron bolt my door,
“And the gaunt mastiff growl before;
“There, not one human creature nigh,
“Save, dear Sir Toby, you and I,
“In cynic silence let us dwell;
“Ye plagues of social life, farewel!”

Displeases this? The modern way,
Perhaps, may please—a public day.

130

“A public day! detested name!
“The farce of friendship and the shame.
“Did ever social freedom come
“Within the pale of drawing-room?
“See pictur'd round the formal crowd!
“How nice, how just each attitude!
“My Lord approaches—what surprise!
“The pictures speak, the pictures rise!
“Thrice ten times told the same salute,
“Once more the mimic forms are mute.
“Mean while the envious rows between,
“Distrust and Scandal walk unseen;
“Their poisons silently infuse,
“'Till these suspect, and those abuse.

“Far, far from these, in some lone shade,
“Let me, in easy silence laid,
“Where never fools, or slaves intrude,
“Enjoy the sweets of solitude!”

What! quit the commerce of mankind!
Leave virtue, fame, and worth behind!
Who fly to solitary rest,
Are Reason's savages at best.

Tho' human life's extensive field
Wild weeds, and vexing brambles yield;

131

Behold her smiling vallies bear
Mellifluous fruits, and flowrets fair!
The crowds of folly you despise—
Associate with the good and wise;
For virtue, rightly understood,
Is to be wise, and to be good.