'Tis but to know how little can be known; 265 Bring then these bleffings to a ftri&t account; Make fair deductions; fee to what they mount: 270 How much of other each is fure to coft; How each for other oft' is wholly loft; How fometimes life is risqu'd, and always case: 275 Say, would't thou be the man to whom they fall? From ancient flory, learn to fcorn them all. There, in the rich, the honour'd, fam'd and great, 280 285 In hearts of kings, or arms of queens who lay, 290 Now Europe's laurels on their brows behold, 295 But ftain'd with blood, or ill exchang'd for gold : Then fee them broke with toils, or funk in cafe, Oh wealth ill-fated! which no act of fame E'er taught to shine, or sanctify'd from shame! 300 What greater blifs attends their close of life? Some greedy minion, or imperious wife, And haunt their flumbers in the pompous fhade. 305 Know then this truth (enough for man to know) "Virtue alone is happiness below." 310 The only point where human bliss ftands ftill, And taftes the good without the fall to ill; 315 And but more relifh'd as the more diftrefs'd: The broadeft mirth unfeeling folly wears, Lefs pleafing far than virtue's very tears i 320 Good, from each object, from each plac'd acquir'd, For ever exercis'd, yet never tir'd; Never elated, while one man's opprefs'd; Never dejected, 'while another's bless'd; And where no wants, no wishes can remain, 325 See the fole blifs heav'n could on all beftow! Which who but feels can tafte, but thinks can know: The bad muft mifs, the good, untaught, will find; 330 P p 335 Learns, Learns, from this union of the rifing whole, The fir, laft purpose of the human foul; And knows where faith, law, morals, all began, All end, in LOVE OF GOD, and LOVE OF MAN, 340 For him alone, Hope leads from goal to goal, And opens ftill, and opens on his foul; 'Till lengthen'd on to Faith, and unconfin'd, It 345 Hope of known bliss, and faith in bliss unknown: (Nature, whofe dictates to no other kind Are giv'n in vain, but what they seek they find) His greatest virtue with his greatest bliss; 350 At once his own bright prospect to be bleft, And strongest motive to affift the reft. Self-love thus pufh'd to focial, to divine, Gives thee to make thy neighbour's bleffing thine. 355 Extend it, let thy enemies have part : Grafp the whole worlds of reafon, life, and fenfe, In one close fyftem of benevolence: Happier as kinder, in whate'er degree, And height of blifs but height of charity. 360 God loves from whole to parts: but human foul Muft rife from individual to the whole. Self-love but ferves the virtuous mind to wake, As the fmall pebble ftirs the peaceful lake; 365 Wide and more wide, th' o'erflowings of the mind 370 Earth fmiles around, with boundless bounty bleft, And heav'n beholds its image in his breaft. Come then, my friend! my genius! come along; Oh mafter of the poet, and the fong! And |