 | Miscellanies In Prose And Verse |  |
Written in 1740.
What avails it, dear Tom, to be honest, and true,Since the World's not made up, of such Sages as you?
If Mankind reason'd right, or but reason'd at all,
Or could learn to distinguish 'twixt Honey and Gall;
I should then freely grant, that your Method was best;
But, as Matters now stand, in good Faith, 'tis a Jest.
To be Courteous, Humane, and to Bounty inclin'd;
To be Liberty's Friend, and a Friend to Mankind;
To be just in your Dealings, both publick and private;
To play no Tricks yourself, nor in others connive at;
To give things their true Names (when you must give them any)
Nor abandon the Few, out of Fear of the Many:
This is what you approve, and declare to be right;
Very well! let's cast up what has e'er been got by't.
Does a Worthy, like this, make a Figure in Town?
Is he lov'd by the People, employ'd by the Crown?
367
Were he lodg'd in Algiers, would they club to redeem him?
Is he ever much thought of, but just whilst he's giving?
Or, if dead a Fortnight, would his Name still be living?
But suppose the World envies a Merit so great,
It can never sure miss of the Favour of Fate:
Long-life, with good Health, and much Cattle possessing,
It at least may enjoy an old Patriarch's Blessing:
Consult then your Books, and Experience too;
Take my Word, you'll soon find the Reverse of this, true;
The Phænomenon's odd; and its Reason you'd know?
Why the Reason is plain, It has always been so.
| Miscellanies In Prose And Verse | |