The works, in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq ::

Who, in the whole course of his pilgrimage
Thro' a trifling ridiculous world,
Maintaining his proper dignity,
Notwithstanding the scoffs of ill-dispos'd persons,
And wits of the age,
That ridicul'd his behaviour,
Or censur'd his breeding;
Following the dictates of nature,
Desiring to ease the afflicted,
Eager to set the prisoners at liberty,
Without having for his end
The noise, or report such things generally cause
In the world,
(As he was seen to perform them of none)
But the sole relief and happiness,
Of the party in distress;
Himself resting easy,
When he cou'd render that so;
Not griping, or pinching himself,
To hoard up superfluities;
Not coveting to keep in his possession
What gives more disquietude, than pleasure;
But charitably diffusing it
To all round about him:
Making the most sorrowful countenance
To smile,
In his presence;
Always bestowing more than he was ask'd,
Always imparting before he was desir'd;
Not proceeding in this manner,

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Upon every trivial suggestion,
But the most mature, and solemn deliberation;
With an incredible presence, and undauntedness
Of mind;
With an inimitable gravity and œconomy
Of face;
Bidding loud defiance
To politeness and the fashion,
Dar'd let a f---t.

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