TABLE TALK. Si te fortè meæ gravis uret sarcina chartæ, Abjicito HOR. Lib. I. Epist. 13. A.You told me, I remember, glory, built B. I grant that, men continuing what they are, Who, with a courage of unshaken root, "Tis to the virtues of such men, man owes Feats of renown, though wrought in ancient days, Tells of a few stout hearts, that fought and died Where duty plac'd them, at their country's side; The man, that is not moved with what he reads, That takes not fire at their heroic deeds, Unworthy of the blessings of the brave, Is base in kind, and born to be a slave. But let eternal infamy pursue The wretch to nought but his ambition true, Some royal mastiff panting at their heels, Chief monster, that has plagued the nations yet: The glass, that bids man mark the fleeting hour, And death's own scythe would better speak his power; Then grace the bony phantom in their stead With the king's shoulder knot and gay cockade; Clothe the twin brethren in each other's dress, The same their occupation and success. A. 'Tis your belief the world was made for man; Kings do but reason on the self-same plan: Maintaining your's, you cannot their's condemn, Who think, or seem to think, man made for them. B. Seldom, alas! the power of logic reigns With much sufficiency in royal brains; Such reasoning falls like an inverted cone, Wanting its proper base to stand upon. Is worth, with all its gold and glittering store, Oh! bright occasions of dispensing good, To nurse with tender care the thriving arts, Nor judge by statute a believer's hope; With close fidelity and love unfeigned To keep the matrimonial bond unstained; His life a lesson to the land he sways; To touch the sword with conscientious awe, A. Guard what you say; the patriotic tribe Will sneer and charge you with a bribe.-B. A bribe? The worth of his three kingdoms I defy, To lure me to the baseness of a lie. And, of all lies, (be that one poet's boast) The lie that flatters I abhor the most. Those arts be their's, who hate his gentle reign, But he that loves him has no need to feign. |