 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
281
TO Mr. M---
M--- regard what honest Mitchell says,
No Hireling he, no Prostitute for Praise!—
With strong, and healthy Constitution blest,
Nor Colds, nor Claps, have yet your Youth distrest.
Bravely successful, now, you hold a Strife
With all the Ills, that pest gallantish Life.
Yet be advis'd, to act with cautious Care,
And, timely, for the worst Events prepare.
Diseases steal upon the human Frame,
And, slighted long, like Ætna, vomit Flame.
Danger is surest, when th' Approach is slow;
'Tis best to shun a meditated Blow.
No Hireling he, no Prostitute for Praise!—
With strong, and healthy Constitution blest,
Nor Colds, nor Claps, have yet your Youth distrest.
Bravely successful, now, you hold a Strife
With all the Ills, that pest gallantish Life.
Yet be advis'd, to act with cautious Care,
And, timely, for the worst Events prepare.
Diseases steal upon the human Frame,
And, slighted long, like Ætna, vomit Flame.
Danger is surest, when th' Approach is slow;
'Tis best to shun a meditated Blow.
282
Next, tho' your Dress, extravagantly gay,
Outrivals others, both at Court, and Play,
(A harmless Pleasure, that the gentle Muse
Will ne'er to sprightly Youths, like you, refuse.)
Yet, O, beware of Pride's presumptuous Spring,
Nor rate your Value by so vain a Thing.
What Wisdom dictates but sedately scan,
You'll find, that Cloaths ne'er constituted Man.
Virtue is not, by pompous Drapery, shown:
The Mind's the Standard, which makes Merit known
Outrivals others, both at Court, and Play,
(A harmless Pleasure, that the gentle Muse
Will ne'er to sprightly Youths, like you, refuse.)
Yet, O, beware of Pride's presumptuous Spring,
Nor rate your Value by so vain a Thing.
What Wisdom dictates but sedately scan,
You'll find, that Cloaths ne'er constituted Man.
Virtue is not, by pompous Drapery, shown:
The Mind's the Standard, which makes Merit known
Chiefly, dear Youth, beware of snaring Game,
Nor risque too far thy Fortune, and thy Fame.
What tho' Success has thy Adventures crown'd,
'Tis difficult to stand on slipp'ry Ground.
By Syren Charms, the wise have oft been snar'd,
Mankind can ne'er be too much on their Guard,
And Safety lyes in being well prepar'd.
Foresee your Danger with Discernment's Eye,
The Ruin's large, when Mortals fall from high.
'Tis Prudence to secure a certain Store,
And hazard only little Sums, for more.
Better to lose a Trifle, than to run
The Risque of being all, at once, undone.
Nor risque too far thy Fortune, and thy Fame.
What tho' Success has thy Adventures crown'd,
'Tis difficult to stand on slipp'ry Ground.
By Syren Charms, the wise have oft been snar'd,
Mankind can ne'er be too much on their Guard,
And Safety lyes in being well prepar'd.
283
The Ruin's large, when Mortals fall from high.
'Tis Prudence to secure a certain Store,
And hazard only little Sums, for more.
Better to lose a Trifle, than to run
The Risque of being all, at once, undone.
M--- these Truths, tho' cloath'd in simple Rhime,
Will useful prove, if ponder'd well, in Time.
If e'er their Force command your due Regard,
Remember Mitchell was a friendly Bard,
Who sought not, but in Virtue's self, Reward.
Will useful prove, if ponder'd well, in Time.
If e'er their Force command your due Regard,
Remember Mitchell was a friendly Bard,
Who sought not, but in Virtue's self, Reward.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |