FRIENDSHIP. What virtue, or what mental grace, Will boast it their possession? And dulness, of discretion. If ev'ry polish'd gem we find Provoke to imitation ; Or, rather, constellation. No knave, but boldly will pretend A real and a sound one; And dream that he had found one. Candid, and generous, and just, An errour soon corrected Is most to be suspected ? But here again a danger lies, And taken trash for treasure, A mere Utopian pleasure. An acquisition rather rare Nor is it wise complaining, We sought, without attaining. No friendsbip will abide the test, Or mean self-love erected; For vicious ends connected. Who seek a friend should come dispos'd T'exhibit, in full bloom disclos'd, The graces and the beauties That form the character he seeks, For 't is a union that bespeaks Reciprocated duties. Mntual attention is implied, And constantly supported : Our own as much distorted. But will sincerity suffice? And must be made the basis; All shining in their places. A fretful temper will divide By ceaseless sharp corrosion; At one immense explosion. In vain the talkative unite The secret just committed, And by themselves outwitted. How bright soe'er the prospect seeins, If envy chance to creep in; if you succeed, May prove a dang'rons foe, indeed, But not a friend worth keeping. As envy pines at good possess'd, On good, that seems approaching, And hates him for encroaching : Hence authors of illustrious name, Are sadly prone to quarrel, And pluck each other's laurel. A man renown'd for repartee With friendship's finest feeling, By way of balm for hcaling. Whoever keeps an open ear The trumpet of contention; And rush into dissension, A friendship that, in frequent fits The sparks of disputation, The thought of conflagration. Some fickle creatures boast a soul Their humour yet so various Their love is so precarious. The great and small but rarely meet Plebeians must surrender, Obscurity with splendour. Some are so placid and serene, They sleep secure from waking; Unmov'd, and without quaking. Courtier and patriot cannot mix Without an effervescence, A friendly coalescence. Religion should extinguish strife, But friends, that chance to differ No combatants are stiffer. To prove at last my main intent No cutting and contrivingSeeking a real friend, we seem T'adopt the chymists' golden dream, With still less hope of thriving. |