University of Virginia Library

To D. C. when very YOUNG.

If to be Gay, well-humour'd, Witty,
Youthful, Agreeable, and Pretty,
Attracts the Eye, and wins the Mind;
Then what Resistance can you find,
Whom Heaven has form'd with ev'ry Grace,
A sprightly Soul, an Angel's Face?
Yet shall I, gentle Boy, impart,
What Kindness dictates from my Heart.
Something there is that's still requir'd,
To make my Campbell more admir'd.
Nature but half the Work has done;
Art must compleat what She begun.
The richest Oar has some Allay,
'Till Labour does the Mass refine;
The Fire must Purge the Dross away,
E'er the Intrinsick Bullion shine.
So you by Study, Observation,
Useful and well-bred Conversation,
Must dress your Mind, correct your Taste,
And give your Thoughts a juster Cast:
Must polish the rough Draught of Nature;
Re-touch, and soften ev'ry Feature:
Set in true Light, each Trait will Shine,
And the whole Piece will look Divine.
A Genius like to yours shou'd aim,
To merit more than common Fame;
Shou'd strive in all Things to excel;
In Judging right, and acting well:
Ambitious still to please the Best,
Despising all the Vulgar rest.
Think not, I mean by this Advice,
To censure Pleasure as a Vice.
My Lyre to softer Notes is strung.—
I laugh at those mysterious Fools,
Who live inslav'd to formal Rules,
And under a constrain'd Disguise,
By looking Grave wou'd pass for Wise.
Reason tho' she forbids Excess,
Yet blames Severity no less.
She, like a Maid, our Fancy warms
With modest, but obliging Charms:
With decent Pride disdains to tread
The Paths that to Dishonour lead;
But safe from Danger, far from Noise,
Revels in silent real Joys;
Such as true Friendship does inspire,
Or Love's more active nobler Fire.