Those only fix'd they first or last obey, The love of pleasure and the love of sway. That Nature gives; and where the lesson taught 210 Men some to bus'ness some to pleasure take, 215 Yet mark the fate of a whole sex of queens! 220 But Wisdom's triumph is well tim❜d retreat, 225 As hard a science to the fair as great! Beauties, like tyrants, old and friendless grown, Worn out in public, weary ev'ry eye, Nor leave one sigh behind them when they die. 230 Still out of reach, yet never out of view; To covet flying, and regret when lost : At last to follies youth could scarce defend, See how the World its veterans rewards! Young without lovers, old without a friend; 235 240 245 A fop their passion, but their prize a sot, Ah! Friend! to dazzle let the vain design; 249 To raise the thought and touch the heart be thine! That charm shall grow, while what fatigues the ring So when the sun's broad beam has tir'd the sight, And unobserv'd the glaring orb declines. Oh! bless'd with temper, whose unclouded ray 255 260 She who ne'er answers till a husband cools, And yet believe me, good as well as ill, Your taste of follies with our scorn of fools; 265 270 275 280 Be this a Woman's fame; with this unblest Toasts live a scorn, and queens may die a jest. This Phoebus promis'd (I forget the year) When those blue eyes first open'd on the sphere; Ascendant Phoebus watch'd that hour with care, 285 Averted half your parent's simple pray❜r, And gave you beauty, but deny'd the pelf 290 Kept dross for duchesses; the world shall know it, To you gave sense, good humour, and a poet. TO ALLEN LORD BATHURST. Of the use of Riches. THE ARGUMENT. THAT it is known to few, most falling into one of the extremes, avarice or profusion, v. 1, &c. The point discussed, whether the invention of money has been more commodious or pernicious to mankind, v. 21 to 77. That Riches, either to the avaricious or the prodigal, cannot afford happiness, scarcely necessaries, v. 89 to 160. That avarice is an absolute frenzy, without an end or purpose, v. 113, &c. 152. Conjectures about the motives of avaricious men, v. 121 to 153. That the conduct of men, with respect to Riches, can only be accounted for by the order of Providence, which works the general good out of extremes, and brings all to its great end by perpetual revolutions, v. 161 to 178. How a miser acts upon principles which appear to him reasonable, v. 179. How a prodigal does the same, v. 199. dium and true use of Riches, v. 219. The due me The Man of Ross, v. 250. The fate of the profuse and the covetous, in two examples; both miserable in life and in death, v. 300, &c. The story of Sir Balaam, v. 339, to the end. |