To all but thee in fits he seem'd to go;
And 'twas my ministry to deal the blow.
The poor fond parent, humbled in the dust,
Now owns in tears the punishment was just.
But how had all his fortunes felt a wrack!
Had that false servant sped in safety back!
This night his treasur'd heaps he meant to steal,
And what a fund of charity would fail!
Thus heaven instructs thy mind; this trial o'er,
Depart in peace, resign, and sin no more.
On sounding pinions here the youth withdrew;
The sage stood wond'ring as the seraph flew.
Thus look'd Elisha, when to mount on high,
His master took the chariot of the sky;
The fiery pomp ascending left the view;
The prophet gaz'd, and wish'd to follow too.
The bending hermit here a pray'r begin:
Lord! as in heav'n, on earth thy will be done.
Then, gladly turning, sought his ancient place;
And pass'd a life of piety and peace.
THE LOVE OF THE WORLD DETECTED.
THUS says the prophet of the Turk :
Good Musselman, abstain from pork;
There is a part in every swine
No friend or follower of mine
May taste, whate'er his inclination,
On pain of excommunication.
Such Mahomet's mysterious charge,
And thus he left the point at large.
Had he the sinful part express'd,
They might with safety eat the rest :
But for one piece they thought it hard
From the whole hog to be debarr'd;
And set their wit at work to find
What joint the prophet had in mind.
Much controversy straight arose ;
These choose the back, the belly those:
By some, 'tis confidently said
He meant not to forbid the head;
While others at that doctrine rail.
And piously prefer the tail.
Thus, conscience freed from ev'ry clog,
Mahomedans eat up the hog.
You laugh 'tis well-the tale applied
May make you laugh on t' other side.
"Renounce the world," the preacher cries;
"We do," a multitude replies.
While one as innocent regards
A snug and friendly game at cards:
And one, whatever you may say,
Can see no evil in a play;
Some love a concert, or a race,
And others, shooting and the chase.
Revil'd and lov'd, renounc'd and follow'd.
Thus bit by bit the world is swallow'd ;
Each thinks his neighbour makes too free,
Yet likes a slice as well as he :
With sophistry their sauce they sweeten,
Till quite from tail to snout 'tis eaten.
WHAT virtue, or what mental grace,
But men, unqualified and base,
Will boast it their profession?
Profusion apes the noble part
Of liberality of heart,
And dulness, of discretion.
If ev'ry polish'd gem we find,
Illuminating heart or mind,
Provoke to imitation;
No wonder Friendship does the same, That jewel of the purest flame,
Or rather constellation.
No knave but boldly will pretend
The requisites that form a friend,
A real and a sound one ;
Nor any fool he would deceive,
But prove as ready to believe,
And dream that he has found one.
Candid, and generous, and just,
Boys care but little whom they trust,
An error soon corrected-
For who but learns in riper years,
That man, when smoothest he appears,
Is most to be suspected?
But here again a danger lies,
Lest having misemploy'd our eyes,
And taken trash for treasure,
We should unwarily conclude
Friendship a false ideal good,
A mere Utopian pleasure.
An acquisition rather rare,
Is yet no subject of despair;
Nor is it wise complaining,
If either on forbidden ground,
Or where it was not to be found,
We sought without attaining.
No friendship will abide the test
That stands on sordid interest,
Or mean self-love erected;
Nor such as may awhile subsist
Between the sot and sensualist,
For vicious ends connected.
Who seeks 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 'tis an union that bespeaks
Reciprocated duties.
Mutual attention is implied,
An equal truth on either side,
And constantly supported;
'Tis senseless arrogance ť
Another of sinister views,
Our own as much distorted.
But will sincerity suffice?
It is indeed above all price,
And must be made the basis;
But ev'ry virtue of the soul
Must constitute the charming whole,
All shining in their places.
A fretful temper will divide
The closest knot that may be tied;
By careless sharp corrosion,
A temper passionate and fierce,
May suddenly your joys disperse,
At one immense explosion.
In vain the talkative unite
In hopes of permanent delight—
The secret just committed,
Forgetting its important weight,
They drop through mere desire to prate,
And by themselves outwitted.
How bright soe'er the prospect seems,
All thoughts of friendship are but dreams
If envy chance to creep in:
An envious man, if you succeed,
May prove a dang'rous foe indeed,
But not a friend worth keeping.
As Envy pines at good possess'd,
So Jealousy looks forth distress'd,
On Good that seems approaching;
And if success his steps attend,
Discerns a rival in a friend,
And hates him for encroaching.
Hence authors of illustrious name,
Unless belied by common fame,
Are sadly prone to quarrel;
To deem the wit a friend displays
A tax upon their own just praise,
And pluck each others laurel.
A man renown'd for repartee,
Will seldom scruple to make free
With friendship's finest feeling;
Will thrust a dagger at your breast,
And say he wounded you in jest,
By way of balm for healing.
Whoever keeps an open ear
For tattlers, will be sure to hear
The trumpet of contention;
Aspersion is the babbler's trade,
To listen is to lend him aid,
And rush into dissention.
A friendship that in frequent fits
Of controversial rage emits
The sparks of disputation,
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