 | Miscellanies in Prose and Verse |  |
11
The CAUTION.
Distrustful Sense with modest Caution speak.
Pope.
Whate'er we see, whate'er we hear,
Let anxious prudence weigh;
Falshood the mask of truth may wear,
And gain unlawful sway.
Let anxious prudence weigh;
Falshood the mask of truth may wear,
And gain unlawful sway.
We must not always judge by sight,
Our eyes too oft deceive;
Things alter in a different light,
And different aspects give.
Our eyes too oft deceive;
Things alter in a different light,
And different aspects give.
We must not lend a willing ear,
To ev'ry specious tale,
The cunning sport with the sincere,
And pity but to rail.
To ev'ry specious tale,
The cunning sport with the sincere,
And pity but to rail.
12
Nor should we all we know relate,
For oft the busy tongue
Which tells the truth at any rate
Will do its neighbour wrong.
For oft the busy tongue
Which tells the truth at any rate
Will do its neighbour wrong.
Cease then, ye fierce reformers, cease,
This furious zeal forbear,
If not for virtue, yet for peace,
Cleora's frailties spare.
This furious zeal forbear,
If not for virtue, yet for peace,
Cleora's frailties spare.
| Miscellanies in Prose and Verse | |