And long 'twas doubtful, both so closely pent, Which firft fhould iffue thro' the narrow vent: At laft agreed, together out they fly, Infeparable now, the truth and lye; The ftrict companions are for ever join'd, 495 And this or that unmix'd, no mortal e'er fhall find. While thus I ftood, intent to fee and hear, One came, methought, and whisper'd in my ear: What could thus high thy rash ambition raise? Art thou, fond youth, a candidate for praise? "Tis true, faid I, not void of hopes I came, For who so fond as youthful bards of Fame? But few, alas! the cafual bleffing boast, 500 So hard to gain, fo eafy to be loft. How vain that second life in others breath, 505 Th'eftate which wits inherit after death! NOTES. VER. 497. While thus food, etc.] The hint is taken from a paffage in another part of the third book, but here more naturally made the conclufion, with the Addition of a Moral to the whole. In Chaucer he only answers " he came to fee the place;" and the book ends abruptly, with his being furprized at the fight of a Man of great Authority, and awaking in a fright. P. IMITATIONS. A lefing and a fad footh faw That gonnen at adventure draw Shall have one of thefe two, but bothe, etc. P. Eafe, health, and life, for this they must refign, (Unfure the tenure, but how vaft the fine!) The great man's curfe, without the gains endure, And all fuccefsful, jealous friends at best. But if the purchase costs fo dear a price Oh! if the Muse must flatter lawless sway, But the fall'n ruins of another's fame ; 515 520 Then teach me, heav'n! to fcorn the guilty bays, |