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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/visionsinversefoOOcott 
 
VISIONS 
 
 IN 
 
 VERS E, 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 Entertainment and Inftru£lion 
 o F 
 
 YOUNGER MINDS. 
 
 Virginibns puerifque canto. Hor. 
 
 ^fK^3 
 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 Printed for R. Dodsley in Pall-mall-, 
 
 And SOLD by 
 
 M.Cooper, at the Globe in Pater-nofier-row. 
 MDCCL T . 
 

 
 
 A N 
 
 
 TO THE 
 
 V, 
 
 ?|^gB$UTHORS, you know, of grcatcft Fa m 
 
 feV^^S& Thro' Modefty lupureis their Name ^ 
 f^^4vS5 And wou'd you wifh me to reveal, 
 BNISSIIS What thefe lupcrior Wits conceal ? 
 
 Forego the Search, my curious Friend, 
 And hufband Time to better End. 
 All my Ambition is, I own, 
 To profit and to pleafe unknown. 
 Like Streams fupply'd from Springs below, 
 Which fcatter Blefiings as they flow. 
 
 A 2 Were 
 
(4) 
 
 Were you difeas'd, or prefs'd with Pain, 
 Strait you'd apply to * Wavmkk-hane •, 
 The thoughtful Doctor feels your Pulfe, 
 (No Matter whether Mead or Hulfe) 
 
 Writes Arabic to you and me, — ■ 
 
 Then figns his Hand, and takes your Fee, 
 Now, fhou'd the Sage omit his Name, 
 Wou'd not the Cure remain the farne ? 
 Not but Phyficians fign their Bill, 
 Or when they cure ? or when they kill, 
 
 Suppofc my little Name I hide, 
 I'll tell you ev'ry thing befide. 
 Not that it boots the World a Tittle, 
 Whether the Author's big or little ; 
 Or whether fair, or black, or brown ; 
 No Writer's Hue concerns the Town. 
 
 I pafs the filent rural Hour, 
 No Slave to Wealth, no Tool to Pow'r. 
 My Hovel's fmall, but warm and neat, 
 You'd fay, a pretty fnug Retreat. 
 My Rooms no cofily Paintings grace, 
 The humbler Print fupplies their Place. 
 Behind the Houfe my Garden lies, 
 And opens to the Southern Skies : 
 
 * College of Phyficians. 
 
 The 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 The diftant Hills gay Profpedts yield, 
 And Plenty fmiles in every Field. 
 
 The faithful Martin is my Guard, 
 The teather'd Tribes adorn my Yard % 
 Alive my Joy, my Treat when dead, 
 And their foft Plumes improve my Bed, 
 
 My Cow rewards me all me cam 
 (Brutes leave Ingratitude to Man ;) 
 She, daily thankful to her Lord, 
 Crowns with nectareous Sweets my Beard 
 Am I difeas'd ; — the Cure is known,- 
 Her fweeter Juices mend my own. 
 
 I love my Plur, and fe'ldorri roam. 
 
 Few Vifits pleafe me more than Heme, 
 
 I pity that unhappy Elf, 
 
 Who loves all Company but Self.- 
 
 By idle Paiilon born away 
 
 To Opera, Mafquerade, or Play, 
 
 Fond of thofe Hives, where Folly reigns'* 
 
 And Britain's Peers receive her Chains.- 
 
 Where the pert Virgin (lights a Name, 
 
 And fcorns to redden into Shame, 
 
 A 3 B*t 
 
( 6) 
 
 But know, my Fair, (to whom belong 
 The Poet and his artlefs Song.) 
 When Female Cheeks refufe to glow, 
 Farewel to Virtue here below. 
 Our Sex is loll to every Rule, 
 Our fole Diftindlion, Knave or FooL 
 'Tis to your Innocence we run ; 
 Save us, ye Fair, or we're undone : 
 Maintain your Modefty and Station, 
 So Women lhall preferve the Nation : 
 
 Mothers, 'tis faid, in Bays of old, 
 Eiieem'd their Girls more choice than Gold : 
 Too well their Diamond's Worth they knew, 
 To force it into public View. 
 Then, if Sir PLUME drew near, and fmiPd, 
 The Parent trembled for her Child : 
 The firft Advance alarm'd her Breaft - 3 
 And Fancy piclur'd all the reft. 
 But now no Mother fears a Foe, 
 No Daughter fhudders at a Beau. 
 
 Pleafure is all the reigning Theme, 
 Our Noon-day Thought, our Mid-night Dream, 
 In Folly's Chace our Youths engage, 
 And fhamdefs Crowds of tottering Age, 
 
 ru 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 The Dye, the Dance, th' intemperate Bowl, 
 With various Charms cngrofs the Soul. 
 Are Gold, Fame, Health, the Terms of Vice ? 
 The frantic Tribes fhall pay the Price. 
 But tho' to Ruin Poft they run, 
 They'll think it hard to be undone. 
 
 Do not arraign my want of Tafte, 
 Or Sight to ken where Joys are plac'd. 
 I am nor indolent, nor blind. 
 Nor is my Pride a Stoic's Mind. 
 Like yours are my Senfations quite y 
 I only ftrive to feel aright. 
 My Joys, like Streams, glide gently by, 
 Tho' fmall their Channel, never dry j 
 Keep a fcill, even, fruitful Wave, 
 And blefs the neighb'ring Meads they lave, 
 
 My Fortune (for HI mention all, 
 And more than you dare tell) is fmall ; 
 Yet every Friend partakes my Store, 
 And Want goes fmiling from my Door. 
 Will forty Shillings warm the Breaft 
 Of Worth, orlnduftry diftrefs'd ? 
 
 A 4 This 
 
( 8) 
 
 This Sum I chearfully impart ; 
 J Tis fourfcore Pleafures to my Heart. 
 And you may make, by Means like thefe, 
 Five Talents Ten, whene'er you pleafe. 
 'Tis true, thereby my Purfe grows light -, 
 But then I deep fo fweet at Night ! 
 This Grand Specif c will prevail 
 When all the Doctor's Opiates fail. 
 
 You afk, What Party I purfue ? 
 Perhaps you mean, " Whofe Fool are you?" 
 All Party-names, Friend, I deteft, 
 Badges of Slavery at belt ! 
 I've too much Grace to play the Knave, 
 And too much Pride to turn a Slave. 
 
 I love my Country from my Soul, 
 And grieve, when Knaves or Fools controul. 
 I'm pleas'd, when Vice and Folly fmart, 
 Or at the Gibbet or the Cart j 
 Yet always pity, where I can, 
 Abhor the Guilt, but mourn the Man. 
 
 Now the Religion of your Poet — 
 Does not this little Preface mow it ? 
 
 My 
 
(9) 
 
 My Vifions if you fcan with Care, 
 9 Tis Ten to One you'll find it there. 
 And if my Actions fuit my Song, 
 You can't in Confcience think me wrong, 
 
 SLAN- 
 
SLANDER, 
 
 VISION I. 
 
 Infcrib'd to Mifs * * * * 
 
( *3 ) 
 
 LENDER. 
 
 VISION I. 
 
 Infcrib'd to Mifs 
 
 # * * & & 
 
 Y lovely Girl, I write For you ; 
 And pray believe my Vifions true ; 
 They'll form your Mind to every Grace ; 
 They'll add new Beauties to your Face : 
 And when old Age impairs your Prime, 
 You'll triumph o'er the Spoils of Time. 
 
 Childhood and Youth engage my Pen, 
 'Tis Labour loft to talk to Men. 
 Youth may, perhaps, reform, when wrong, 
 Age will not liften to my Song. 
 He who at fifty is a Fool, 
 Is far too ftubborn grown for School 
 
 What 
 
( H) 
 
 What is that Vice, which ftill prevails* 
 "When almoft every Paffion fails : 
 Which with our very Dawn- begun, 
 Nor ends, but with our fetting Sun : 
 Which, like a noxious Weed, can fpoil, 
 The faireft Flow'rs, and choak the Soil ? 
 
 5 Tis SLANDER. And, with Shame I own, 
 
 The Vice of human-kind aione. 
 
 Be SLANDER then my leading Dream a 
 Tho' you're a Stranger to the Theme : 
 Thy letter Breaft, and honeft ilea, t, 
 Scorn? the defamatory Dart : 
 Thy Soul afierts her native Skies, 
 Nor afks Detraction's Wings to i ife : 
 In foreign Spoils let others thine, 
 Intrinfic Excellence is thine. 
 The Bird, in Peacock's Plumes who fhone, 
 Cou'd plead no Merit of her own : 
 The filly Theft betray 'd her Pride, 
 And fpoke her Poverty befide. 
 
 As I was nodding in my Chair, 
 * faw a rueful Wild appear : 
 
 l\o 
 
( 15) 
 
 No Verdure met my aching Sight, 
 But Hemlock, and cold Aconite ; 
 Two very pois'nous Plants, 'tis true, 
 But not fo bad as Vice to you. 
 
 The dreary Profpeft fpread around ! 
 Deep Snow hid all the whiten'd Ground ; 
 A bleak and barren Mountain nigh, 
 Expos'd to every friend lefs Sky ! 
 Here foul-mouth'd SLANDER lay reclm'd. 
 Her fnaky Treffes hifs'd behind : 
 " A bloated Toad-ftool rais'd her Head, 
 " The Plumes of Ravens were her Bed : 
 She fed upon the Viper's Brood, 
 And flak'd her impious Thirft with Blood* 
 
 The Hag fmil'd horribly, to view 
 How wide her daily Conquefls grew : 
 Around the crouded Levees wait, 
 Like Oriental Slaves of State : 
 Of either Sex whole Armies prefs'd, 
 But chiefly of the Sex that's beft. 
 
 Is it a Breach of Friendfhip's Lav/, 
 To fay what female Friends I faw ? 
 
 SLAN- 
 
( 16 ) 
 SLANDER affumes the Idol's Part, 
 And claims the Tribute of the Heart. 
 The belt, in fome unguarded Hour, 
 Have bow'd the Knee, and own'd her Pow'rl 
 Then let the Poet not reveal 
 What Candour wifhes to conceal. 
 
 If I beheld fome faulty Fair, 
 Much worfe Delinquents crowded there : 
 Prelates in facred Lawn I faw, 
 Grave Phyfic, and loquacious Law ; 
 Courtiers, like Summer Flies, abound j 
 And hungry Poets fwarm around. 
 But now my partial Story ends, 
 And makes my Females full amends, 
 
 If ALBION'S Ifle fuch Dreams fulfils, 
 'Tis ALBION'S Ifle which cures thefe Ills ; 
 Fertile of every Worth and Grace, 
 Which warm the Heart, and flufh the Face, 
 
 Fancy difclos'd a fmiling Train 
 Of Britijh Nymphs, that trip'd the Plain : 
 GOOD-NATURE firft, a Sylvan Queen, 
 Attir'cl in Robes of chearful Green : 
 
( '7 ) 
 
 A fair and itniling Virgin fhe ! 
 With every Charm that mines in Thee : 
 PRUDENCE affum'd the chief Command, 
 And bore a Mirrour in her Hand •, 
 Grey was the Matron's Head by Age, 
 Her Mind by long Experience fage ; 
 Of every diftant 111 afraid, 
 And anxious for the fimp'ring Maid. 
 The GRACES dane'd before the Fair; 
 And white-rob'd INNOCENCE was there. 
 The Trees with golden Fruits were crown'd, 
 And rifing Flow'rs adorn'd the Ground ; 
 The Sun difplay'd each brighter Ray, 
 And Ihone in all the Pride of Day. 
 
 When SLANDER ficken'd at the Sight, 
 And fkulk'd away to fhun the Light. 
 
 B PLEA- 
 
LEISURE, 
 
 VISION II. 
 
 B 
 
(21 ) 
 
 P L EA S U 
 
 VISION II 
 
 EAR, ye fair Mothers of our Ifle, 
 Nor fcorn your Poet's homely Style. 
 
 What ! tho' my Thoughts be quaint or new, 
 
 I'll warrant, that my Doctrine's true : 
 
 Or if my Sentiments be old, 
 
 Remember, Truth is fterling Gold, 
 
 You judge it of important Weight 
 To keep your rifing Offspring ftniit : 
 For This fuch anxious Moments feel, 
 And afk the friendly Aids of Steel : 
 For This import the diftant Cane, 
 Or flay the Monarch of the Main. 
 And mail the Soul be warp'd afidc 
 By Paflion, Prejudice, and Pride ? 
 Deformity of Heart I call 
 The word Deformity of all. 
 
 B _^ You? 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 Your Cares to Body are confin'd, 
 Few fear Obliquity of Mind. 
 Why not adorn the better Part ! 
 This is a nobler Theme for Art. 
 For what is Form, or what is Face, 
 But the Soul's Index, or its Cafe ? 
 
 Now take a Simile at Hand, 
 Compare the mental Soil to Land. 
 Shall Fields be till'd with annual Care, 
 And minds lie fallow ev'ry Year ? 
 O fmce the Crop depends on You, 
 Give them the Culture which is due : 
 Floe every Weed, and drefs the SoiI 3 
 So Flarveft ihall repay your Toil. 
 
 If human Minds refemble Trees, 
 (As every Moraiift agrees) 
 Prune all the Straglcrs of your Vine, 
 Then fhall the purple Clufters fhine. 
 The Gard'ner knows, that fruitful Life 
 Demands his falutary Knife : 
 For every wild luxuriant Shoot 
 Or robs the Bloom, or ftarves the Fruit. 
 
 A 
 
( 23 ) 
 A Satyrift in Roman Times, 
 When Rome like Britain groan'd with Crimes, 
 ArTerts it for a facred Truth, 
 That PLEASURES are the Bane of Youth : 
 That Sorrows fuch Purfuits attend, 
 Or fuch Purfuits in Sorrows end : 
 That all the wild Advent'rer gains 
 Are Perils, Penitence, and Pains. 
 
 Approve, ye Fair, the Roman Page, 
 And bid your Sons revere the Sage j 
 In Study fpend their Midnight Oil, 
 And firing their Nerves by manly Toil. 
 Thus mall they grow, like TEMPLE wife, 
 Thus future LOCKS and NEW TONS rife^ 
 Or hardy Chiefs to wield the Lance, 
 And fave us from the Chains of France. 
 Yes, bid your Sons betimes forego 
 Thofe treach'rous Paths where PLEASURES grow ; 
 Where the young Mind is Folly's Slave, 
 And every V irtue finds a Grave. 
 
 Let each bright Character be nam'd, 
 For Wifdomor for Valour fam'd : 
 Are the dear Youths to Science prone ? 
 Tel), how th' immortal B A C O N fhone ! 
 
 B 4. Who, 
 
( 24 ) 
 Who, leaving meaner Joys to Kings, 
 Soar'cl high on Contemplation's Wings ; 
 Rang'd the fair Fields of Nature o'er, 
 Where never Mortal trod before: 
 BACON ! whofe vaft capacious Plan 
 Befpoke him Angel, more than Man ! 
 
 Does Love of Martial Fame infpire ? 
 Cherim, ye Fair, the gen'rous Fire ; 
 Teach them to fpurn inglorious Reft, 
 And roufe the Hero in their Breaft •, 
 Paint CreJJy's vanquifh'd Field anew, 
 Their Souls fhall kindle at the View ; 
 Refolv'd to conquer or to fall, 
 When Liberty and Britain call. 
 Thus mail they rule the crimfon Plain, 
 Or hurl their Thunders thro' the Main ; 
 Gain with their Blood, nor grudge the Coft, 
 What their clegen'rate Sires have loft : 
 The Laurel thus fhall grace their Brow, 
 As CHURCHIL's once, or WARREN's now. 
 
 One Summer's Evening as I ftray'd 
 Along the Silent Moon-light Glade •, 
 With thefe Reflections in my Breaft, 
 Beneath an Oak I funk to Reft ; 
 
( 25 ) 
 A gentle Slumber Intervenes, 
 And Fancy drefs'd inflructive Scenes, 
 
 METHOUGHT a fpacious Road I %'d, 
 And ftately Trees adorn'd its Side, 
 Frequented by a giddy Croud 
 Of thoughtlefs Mortals, vain, and loud ; 
 Who trip'd with jocund Heel along, 
 And bade me join their fmiling Throng. 
 
 I ftrait obey'd — Perfuafion hung 
 Like Honey on the Speaker's Tongue, 
 A cloudlefs Sun improv'd the Day, 
 And Pinks and Rofes ftrew'd our Way, 
 
 Now as our Journey we purfue, 
 A beautious Fabrick rofe to View ; 
 A ftately Dome ! and fweetly grae'd 
 With every Ornament of Tafte. 
 This Structure was a Female's Claim, 
 And PLEASURE was the Monarch's Name. 
 
 The Hall we enter'duncontroul'd. 
 And faw the Queen enthron'd on Gold: 
 Arabian Sweets perfum'd the Ground, 
 And laughing Cupids perch'd around % 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 A flowing Veil adorn'd the Fair, 
 And flow'ry Chaplets wreath'd her Hair .° 
 The GRACE-> deck'd her with their Smiles, 
 And FRAUD beftow'd her artful Wiles ; 
 LOVE taught her lifping Tongue to fpeak, 
 And form'd the Dimple in her Cheek ; 
 The LILLY, blended with the ROSE, 
 The Tincture of her Face compofe j 
 Nor did the God of WIT difdain 
 To mingle with the lhining Train. 
 
 Her Vot'ries flock'd from various Parts, 
 And chie^y Youth refign'd their Hearts : 
 The Old in fparing Numbers prefs'd, 
 But aukward Devotees at bed. 
 
 Now let us range at large, we cry'd, 
 Thro* all the Gardens' boafted Pride. 
 Here Jafmines interwove their Flow'rs, 
 And emulated Eden's Bow'rs : 
 The Woodbines mix'din am'rous Play, 
 And brea.h'd their fragrant Lives away : 
 Here the young Rofe its Eioom difplayM ; 
 There the Gold Orange form'd a Shade : 
 While Fountains murmuring to the Song, 
 Ro'.i'd their tranfiuceat Streams along. 
 
 Thro 
 
( 27 ) 
 Thro' all the aromatic Groves 
 The faithful Turtles told their Loves : 
 Larks as they mounted pour'd their Notes 
 And Linnets fvvell'd their rapturous Throats* 
 
 We now were ordered to depart, 
 Reluctance fat on every Heart : 
 A Porter fhew'd a different Door, 
 Not the fair Portal known before ! 
 The Gates, methought, were open'd wide, 
 The Crouds defcended in a Tide. 
 But oh ! ye Heav'ns, what vaft Surprize 
 Struck the Advent'rers' frighted Eyes ! 
 A barren Heath before us lay, 
 And gath'ring Clouds obfcur'd the Day : 
 The Darknefs rofe in fmoky Spires ; 
 The Lightnings flalh'd their livid Fires : 
 Loud Peals of Thunder rent the Air, 
 While Vengeance chill'd our Hearts with Fear. 
 
 Five ruthlefs Tyrants fwafd the Plain, 
 And triumph'd o'er the mangled Slain. 
 Here fat DISTASTE, with fickly Mien, 
 And more than half devour'd with Spleen • 
 There ftood REMORSE, with Thought opprefh 
 And Vipers feeding on his Breait ; 
 
 Then 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 Then WANT, deje&ed, pale and thin, 
 
 With Bones juft flatting thro his Skin - 9 
 
 A ghaftly Fiend ! — and clofe behind 
 
 DISEASE his aching Head reclin'd ! 
 
 His everlafting Thirft confefs'd 
 
 The Fires which rag'd within his Breaft: 
 
 DEATH clos'd the Train ! the hideous Form 
 
 Smil'd unrelenting in the Stem : 
 
 When flrait a doleful Shriek was heard j 
 
 I 'woke — The Villon difappear'd. 
 
 Let not the unexperiene'd Boy 
 Deny, that PLEASURES will deftroy : 
 Or fay, that Dreams are vain and wild, 
 Like Fairy Tales, to pleafe a Child. 
 Important Hints the Wife may reap 
 From Sallies of the Soul in Sleep. 
 And fince there's Meaning in my Dream, 
 The Moral merits your Efteem. 
 
 HEALTH 
 
H E A L T H, 
 
 vision in. 
 
(3i ) 
 
 HEAL T 
 
 VISION III. 
 
 T T E N D my Vifions, thoughtlefs Youths, 
 . Ere long you'll think them weighty Truths \ 
 
 Prudent it were to think fo now, 
 
 Ere Age has fiiver'd o'er your Brow : 
 
 For He, who at his early Years 
 
 Has fown in Vice, ihall reap in Tears. 
 
 If Folly has poffefs'd his Prime, 
 
 Difeafe lhall gather Strength by Time, 
 
 Poifon mail rage in every Vein, — 
 
 Nor Penitence dilute the Stain : 
 
 And when each Hour fhall urge his Fate, 
 
 Thought, like the Dodor, comes too late. 
 
 The Subject of my Song isKEALTH, 
 A Good fuperior far to Wealth. 
 Can the young Mind diftruft its Worth ! 
 Confult the Monarchs of the Earth, : 
 
 Imperial 
 
( 3 2 ) 
 
 Imperial Czars, and Sultans, own 
 No Gem fa bright, that decks their Throne: 
 Each for this Pearl his Crown would quit, 
 And turn a Ruftic, or a Cit. 
 
 Mark, tho' the Bleffing's loft with Eafc, 
 Tis not recover'd, when you pleafe. 
 Say not, that Gruels mall avail, 
 Too late apply'd fuch Means will fail. 
 Say not, Jpollo's Sons fucceed, 
 Jpollo's Son is Egypt's Reed. 
 How fruitlefs the Phyfician's Skill, 
 How vain the penitential Pill, 
 The Marble Monuments proclaim, 
 The humbler Turf confirms the fame ! 
 Prevention is the better Cure, 
 So fays the Proverb, and 'tis fare. 
 
 Wou'd you extend your narrow Span, 
 And make the mod of Life you can ; 
 -Wou'd you, when Med'cines cannot lave* 
 Defcend with Eafc into the Grave ; 
 Calmly retire, like Evening Light, 
 And chearful bid the World Good Night ; 
 Let Temp'rance conftantly prefide, 
 Our bed Phyfician, Friend, and Guide ! 
 
 Wou'd 
 
( 33 ) 
 Wou'd you to Wifdom make Pretence, 
 Proud to be thought a Man of Senfe ; 
 Let Temp'rance (always Friend to Fame) 
 "With fteddy Hand direct your Aim ; 
 Or, like an Archer in the Dark, 
 Your random Shaft will mifs the Mark : 
 For they, who flight her golden Rules, 
 In Wifdom's Volume {land for Fools, 
 
 But Morals, unadorn'd by Art, 
 Are feldom known to reach the Heart, 
 Pll therefore ftrive to raife my Theme, 
 With all the Scenery of Dream. 
 
 Soft were my Slumbers, fwect my Rei% 
 Such as the Infant's on the Breaft j 
 When Fancy, ever on the Wing, 
 And fruitful as the genial Spring, 
 Prefented in a Blaze of Light, 
 A new Creation to my Sight. 
 
 A rural Landfcape I defcry'd, 
 Dreft in the Robes of Summer Pride j 
 The Herds adorn'd the Hoping Hills, 
 That glitter'd with their tinkling Rills $ 
 
 C Below 
 
( 3 2 ) 
 
 Imperial Czars, and Sultans, own 
 No Gem fo bright, that decks their Throne: 
 Each for this Pearl his Crown would quit, 
 And turn a Ruftic, or a Cit. 
 
 Mark, tho' the Bleffing's loft with Eafe, 
 Tis not recovei'd, when you pleafe. 
 Say not, that Gruels mall avail, 
 Too late apply 'd fuch Means will fail. 
 Say not, Jpollo's Sons fucceed, 
 Jpm Son is Egypt's Reed. 
 How fruitlefs the Phyfician's Skill, 
 How vain the penitential Pill, 
 The Marble Monuments proclaim, 
 The humbler Turf confirms the fame ! 
 Prevention is the better Cure, 
 So fays the Proverb, and His fure. 
 
 Wou'd you extend your narrow Span, 
 And make the moft of Life you can v 
 Wou'd you, when Med'cines cannot fave, 
 Defcend with Eafe into the Grave ; 
 Calmly retire, like Evening Light, 
 Andchearful bid the World Good Night i 
 Let Temp'rance constantly prefide, 
 Our bed Phyfician, Friend, and Guide ! 
 
 Wou'd 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 Woird you to Wifdom make Pretence, 
 Proud to be thought a Man of Senfe ; 
 Let Temp'rance (always Friend to Fame) 
 With fteddy Hand direct your Aim ; 
 Or, like an Archer in the Dark, 
 Your random Shaft will mifs the Mark : 
 For they, who flight her golden Rules, 
 In Wifdom's Volume Hand for Fools, 
 
 But Morals, unadorn'd by Art, 
 Are feldom known to reach the Heart, 
 I'll therefore ftrive to raife my Theme, 
 With all the Scenery of Dream. 
 
 Soft were my Slumbers, fwect my Rei% 
 Such as the Infant's on the Bread •, 
 When Fancy, ever on the Wing, 
 And fruitful as the genial Spring, 
 Prefented in a Blaze of Light, 
 A new Creation to my Sight. 
 
 A rural Landfcape I defcry'd, 
 Dreft in the Robes of Summer Pride $ 
 The Herds adorn'd the Hoping Hilis, 
 That glitter'd with their tinkling; Rills ; 
 
 C Below 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 With Sifter PEACE in clofe Embrace, 
 And Heav'n all opening in her Face. 
 
 The Reign was long, the Empire great 3 
 And VIRTUE, Minifter of State. 
 In other Kingdoms, ev'ry Hour, 
 You hear of Vice preferr'd to Pow'r : 
 VICE was a perfect Stranger here ; 
 No Knaves engrofs'd the Royal Ear : 
 Nor Fools obtain'd this Monarch's Grace 5 
 VIRTUE dilpos'd of every Place. 
 
 What fickly Appetites are ours, 
 Still varying with the varying Hours ! 
 And tho' from good to bad we range, 
 No Matter, fays the Fool, " 'tis Change. 13 
 
 Her Subjects now exprefs'd apace 
 Diflatisfaction in their Face : 
 Some view'd the State with Envy's Eye, 
 Some were difpleas'd, they knew not why : 
 When Faction, ever bold and vain, 
 With Rigour tax'd their Monarch's Reign. 
 
 Thus fhou'd an Angel from above, 
 Fraught with Benevolence and Love, 
 
(57 ) 
 
 Defcend to Earth, and here impart 
 Important Truths to mend the Heart ; 
 Would not th' inftruclive Sage difpenfe 
 With Paffion, Appetite, and Senfe ; 
 We fhou'd his heav'nly lore defpife, 
 And fend Him to his former Skies. 
 
 A dang'rous hoftile Pow'r arofe 
 To H E A L T H, whofe Houfhold were her Foes: 
 A Harlot's loofe Attire fne wore, 
 And L U X'R Y was the Name fne bore. 
 This Princefs of unbounded Sway, 
 Whom Afta's fofter Sons obey, 
 Made War againft the Queen of HEALTH, 
 Affifted by the Troops of W E A L T H. 
 
 The Queen was firft to take the Field, 
 Arm'd with her Helmet and her Shield ; 
 Temper'd with fuch fiiperior Art, 
 That both were Proof to every Dart. 
 Two warlike Chiefs approach'd the Green, 
 And wond'rous Fav'rites with the Queen: 
 Both were of Amazonian Race, 
 Both high in Merit, and in Place, 
 Here RESOLUTION march'd, whofe Soul 
 No Fear could fhake, no Pow'r controul ; 
 
 C 3 The 
 
(33 ) 
 
 The Heroine wore a Roman Veil, 
 
 A Lion's Heart inform'd her Breaft. 
 
 There PRUDENCE fhone, whofe Bofom wrought 
 
 With all the various Plans of Thought ; 
 
 'Twas Her's to bid the Troops engage. 
 
 And teach the Battle where to rage. 
 
 O" 
 
 And now the Syren's Armies prefs, 
 Their Van was headed by EXCESS : 
 The mighty Wings, that form'd the Side, 
 Commanded by that Giant PRIDE : 
 While SICKNESS, and her Sifters, PAIN, 
 And POVERTY, the Center gain : 
 REPENTANCE, with a Brow fevere, 
 And DEATH, were ftation'd in the Rear. 
 
 HEALTH rang'd her Troops with matchlefs Art 3 
 And acted the defenfive Part : 
 Her Army polled on a Hill, 
 Plainly befpoke fuperior Skill : 
 Hence were difcover'd thro' the Plain, 
 The Motions of the hoftile Train ; 
 While PPvUDENCE, to prevent Surprize, 
 Oft fally'd with her trufty Spies •, 
 Explor'd each Ambufcade below, 
 And reconnoitred well the Foe, 
 
 When 
 
( 39 ) 
 When LUX'RY fgw, that Force muft fail. 
 She faid, Let Artifice prevail ; 
 Henceforth Hoftilities fhall ceafe, 
 I'll fend to HEALTH, and offer Peace. 
 Strait fhe difpatch'd, with Pow'rs compleat, 
 PLEASURE, her Minifter, to treat. 
 This wicked Strumpet topp'd her Part, 
 And fow'd Sedition in the Heart - 9 
 Thro' the Queen's Troops the Poilbn ran 3 
 All were infected to a Man. 
 Her wary Generals were won 
 By PLEASURE'S Wiles, and Both undone, 
 
 JOVE held the Troops in high Difgracr. 
 And bade Difeafes blaft their Race ; 
 Look'd on the Queen with melting Eyes, 
 And fnatch'd his Darling to the >kies : 
 Who dill regards thofe wifer Few, 
 That dare her Dictates to purfue. 
 For where her ftricter Law prevails, 
 Tho' Paftion prompts, or Vice affails ; 
 Long mall they cloudlefs Skies behold, 
 And their calm Sun-fet beam with Gold, 
 
 £4 CON- 
 
N T E N T, 
 
 VISION IV. 
 
'. . 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 N T E N 
 
 VISION IV. 
 
 A N is deceiv'd by outward Show— - 
 'Tis a plain homcfpun Truth I know 5 
 The Fraud prevails at every Age, 
 So fays the School-boy, and the Sage : 
 Yet Hill we hug the dear Deceit, 
 And ftill exclaim againft the Cheat. 
 But whence this inconfiftcnt Part ? 
 Say, Moralifts, who know the Heart : 
 
 If you'll this Labyrinth purfue, 
 I'll go before, and find the Clue. 
 
 I dreamt ('twas on a Birth -day Night) 
 A fumptuous Palace rofe to Sight : 
 The Builder had, thro' every Part, 
 Obferv'd the chalteft Rules of Art ; 
 
 Raphael 
 
( 44) 
 Raphael and Titian had difplay'd 
 AH the full Force of Light and Shade 5 
 Around the livery'd Servants wait j 
 An aged Porter kept the Gate. 
 
 As I was traverfing the Hall, 
 Where Brujfels' Looms adorn'd the Wall, 
 (Whofe Tap'ftry mews, without my Aid t 
 A Nun is no fuch ufelefs Maid) 
 A graceful Perfon came in View, 
 (His Form, it feems, is known to few ;) 
 Plain v/as his Drefs, devoid of Lace, 
 But Charms ! a thoufand in his Face. 
 
 This, Sir, your Property ? I cry'd — — — - 
 Mailer and Manfion coincide ; 
 Where all, indeed, is truly great, 
 And proves, that Blifs may dwell with State, 
 Pray, Sir, indulge a Stranger's Claim, 
 And grant the Favour of your Name. 
 
 CONTENT, the lovely Form reply'd 5 
 But think not, here that 'I refide : 
 Here lives a Courtier, bafe and fly r, 
 An open, honeft Ruftic, L 
 
 Oujj 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 Our Tafte and Manners difagree, 
 His Levee boafts no Charms for rile : 
 For Titles, and the Smiles ef Kings, 
 To me are cheap unheeded Tilings, 
 ('Tis Virtue can alone impart 
 The Patent of a Ducal Heart ; 
 Unlefs this Herald fpeaks him great, 
 What mail avail the Glare of State ?) 
 Thofe fecret Charms are my Delight, 
 Which mine remote from public Sight 
 Paffions fubdued, Defires at Reft, 
 
 And hence his Chaplain ihares my Breaft, 
 
 There was a Time (his Grace can tell) 
 I knew the Duke exceeding well ; 
 Knew every Secret of his Heart; 
 In Truth, we never were apart : 
 But when the Court became his End, 
 He turn'd his Back upon his Friend, 
 
 One Day I call'd upon his Grace, 
 Juft as the Duke had got a Place : 
 I thought (but thought amifs, 'tis clear) 
 I fhou'd be welcome to the Peer : 
 Yes, welcome to a Man in Pow'r, 
 And fo I was — — for half an Hour. 
 
 But 
 
C4« ) 
 
 Btit he grew weary of his Gueftj 
 And foon difcarded me his Breaft j 
 Upbraided me with Want of Merits 
 And moft for Poverty of Spirit. 
 
 You relifh not the great Man's Lot ? 
 Come then, I'll take thee to my Cot, 
 Think me not partial to the Great, 
 I'm a fworn Foe to Pride and State : 
 No Monarchs fhare my kind Embrace* 
 There's fcarce a Monarch knows my Face : 
 CONTENT fhuns Courts, and oft'ner dwells 
 With modeft Worth in humble Cells j 
 There's no Complaint, tho' brown the Breads 
 Or the cold Stone fuftain the Head ; 
 Tho' hard the Couch, and coarfc the Meat, 
 Still the brown Loaf and Sleep are fweet* 
 
 Far from the City I refide, 
 And a thatch'd Cottage all my Pride. 
 True to my Heart, I feldom roam, 
 Becaufe I find my Joys at home : 
 For foreign Vifits then begin, 
 When the Man feels a Void within. 
 
 But 
 
(47) 
 
 But tho' from Towns and Crouds I fly. 
 No Humourift, nor Cynic, I. 
 Amidft fequefter'd Shades I prize 
 The Friendships of the Good, and Wife, 
 Bid VIRTUE and her Sons attend, 
 VIRTUE will tell thee, I'm her Friend 5 
 Tell thee, I'm faithful, conftant, kind, 
 And meek, and lowly, and refign'd ; 
 Will fay, there's no Diftinction known 
 Betwixt her Houfhold, and my own* 
 
 Author.] If thefe the Friendfhips you purfue, 
 Your Friends, I fear, arc very few. 
 So little Company, you fay, 
 Yet fond of Home from Day to Day ! 
 How do you fhun Detraction's Rod ? 
 I doubt your Neighbours think you odd ! 
 
 Content.] I commune with myfelf at Nighty 
 And afk my Heart, if all be right : 
 If, " Right," replies my faithful Bread, 
 I fmikj and elofe my Eyes to Reft, 
 
 Author.] You feerh regardlefs of the Town : 
 Pray, Sir 3 how ftand you with the Gown ? 
 
 Context." 
 
(48 ) 
 
 Content.] The Clergy fay, they love m'e well, 
 "Whether they do, they beft can tell : 
 They paint me modeft, friendly, wife, 
 And always praife me to the Skies j 
 But, if Conviction's at the Heart, 
 Why not a corrcfpondent Part ? 
 For lliall the learned Tongue prevail, 
 If Actions preach a different Tale ? 
 Who'll feek my Door, or grace my Walls, 
 When neither Dean nor Prelate calls ? 
 
 With thofe my Friendfhips mofl obtain, 
 Who prize their Duty more than Gain ; 
 Soft flow the Hours whene'er we meet, 
 And confcious Virtue is our Treat ; 
 Our harmlefs Breafts no Envy know, 
 And hence we fear no fecret Foe ; 
 Our Walks Ambition ne'er attends, 
 And hence we afk no pow'rful Friends * 
 We wifh the bcfl to Church and State, 
 But leave the Steerage to the Great ; 
 Carelefs, who rifes, or who falls, 
 And never dream of vacant Stalls 3 
 Much lefs, by Pride or Int'reft drawn, 
 Sigh for the Mitre, and the Lawn. 
 
 Obierve 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 Obfcrvc the Secrets of rny Art s 
 I'll fundamental Truths impart : 
 If you'll my wife Advice purfue, 
 I'll quit my Hut, and dwell with you, 
 
 The PafTions are a num'rous Croud 5 
 Imperious, pofitive, and loud : 
 Curb thefe licentious Sons of Strife ; 
 They kindle half the Storms of Life : 
 If they grow mutinous, and rave, 
 They are thy Mailers, Thou their Slave, 
 
 Regard the World with cautious Eye s 
 Nor raife your Expectations high : 
 See, that the ballanc'd Scales be fuch, 
 You neither fear, nor wifh too much. 
 For Difappointment's not the Thing, 
 'Tis Pride and Paflion give the Sting. 
 Life is a Sea, where Storms arife, 
 ('Tis Folly talks of cloudlefs Skies :) 
 He, who contracts his fwelling Sail, 
 Eludes the Fury of the Gale. 
 
 Be (till, nor anxious Thoughts employ, 
 Piftruft imbitters prefent Joy : 
 
 D On 
 
( 5°) 
 
 On God for all Events depend ; 
 You cannot want, when God's your Friend, 
 Weigh well your Part, and do your belt - 9 
 Leave to Omnipotence the reft. 
 To him, who form'd thee in the Womb, 
 And guides from Cradle to the Tomb, 
 Can the fond Mother flight her Boy ? 
 Can fhe forget her prattling Joy ? 
 Say then, fhall fov'reign Love defert 
 The humble, and the honeil Heart ? 
 Heav'n may not grant thee all thy Mind j 
 Yet fay not thou, that Keav'n's unkind. 
 God is alike, both good, and wife, 
 In what he grants, and what denies : 
 Perhaps, what Goodnefs gives to-day 3 
 To-morrow Goodnefs takes away. 
 
 You fay, that Troubles intervene, 
 That Sorrows darken half the Scene. 
 
 True and this Confequence you fee. 
 
 The World was ne'er defign'd for thee : 
 You're like a Pailenger below, 
 That fiays perhaps a Night or fo ; 
 But ftill his native Country lies 
 Beyond the Boundaries of the Skies, 
 
 Of 
 
(5i ) 
 
 Of Heav'n afk Virtue, Wifdom, Health, 
 But never let thy Pray'r be Wealth. 
 If Food be thine, (tho* little Gold) 
 And Raiment to repel the Cold, 
 Such as may Nature's Wants fuffice, 
 Not what from Pride and Folly rife $ 
 If foft the Motions of thy Soul, 
 And a calm Confcience crowns the whole \ 
 Add but a Friend to all this Store, 
 You can't in Reafon wifh for more : 
 And if kind Heav'n this Comfort brings* 
 ? Tis more than Heav'n bellows on Kings, 
 
 He fpake —The airy Spectre flies,, 
 
 And ftrait the fweet Illufion dies. 
 The Vifion, at the early Dawn, 
 Confign'd me to the thoughtful Morn 1 
 To all the Cares of waking Clay* 
 And inconfiftent Dreams of Day. 
 
 P 2 11 A P- 
 
 1 
 
A P P 1 N E S S. 
 
 VISION V. 
 
 D 3 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 HA P P IN E S S. 
 
 VISION. V. 
 
 E ductile Youths, whofe riling Sun 
 
 Hath many Circles ftill to run •> 
 Who wifely wim the Pilot's Chart, 
 To fleer thro' Life th' unballanc'd Heart ; 
 And gain a happy Port at laft, 
 After a thoughtful Voyage pafb : 
 Attend a Seer's inftrudtive Song, 
 For moral Truths to Dreams belong. 
 
 I faw this wond'rous Vifion foon, 
 Long ere my Sun had reach'd its Noon j 
 Juft when the rifing Beard began 
 To grace my Chin, and call me Man. 
 
 One Night, when balmy Slumbers med 
 Their peaceful Poppies o'er my Head, 
 
 D 4 My 
 
( 56 ) 
 
 My Fancy led me to explore 
 
 A thoufand Scenes unknown before. 
 
 faw a Plain extended wide, 
 And Crouds pour'd in from every Side : 
 All feem'd to ftart a different Game, 
 Yet all declar'd their Views the fame : 
 The Chace was HAPPINESS I found, 
 But all, alas ! enchanted Ground. 
 
 Indeed I judg'd it wond'rous ftrange, 
 To fee the giddy Numbers range 
 Thro' Roads, which promis'd nought, at beft, 
 But Sorrow to the human Breaft. 
 Methonght, if Blifs was all their View, 
 Why did they different Paths purfue ? 
 The waking World has long agreed, 
 That Bagfhot's not the Road to Tweed : 
 And he who Berwick feeks thro' Stains, 
 Shall have his Labour for his Pains, 
 
 As PARNEL * fays, my Bofom wrought 
 With Travail of uncertain Thought : 
 And, as an Angel help'd the Dean, 
 My Anel chofe to intervene ; 
 
 * The Hermit. 
 
 The 
 
(57> 
 
 The Drefs of each was much the fame, 
 And VIRTUE was my Seraph's Name. 
 When thus the Angel Silence broke, 
 Her Voice was Mufic, as fhe fpoke. 
 
 Attend, O Man, nor leave my Side, 
 And Safety fhall thy footfceps guide •, 
 Such Truths I'll teach, fuch Secrets mow, 
 As none but favour'd Mortals know. 
 
 She faid and ftrait we march'd along 
 
 To join AMBITION'S aftive Throng : 
 Crouds urg'd on Crouds with eager Pace, 
 And happy Ke, who led the Race. 
 Hatchets and Daggers lay unfeen 
 In Ambufcade along the Green : 
 While Vapours fhed delufive Light, 
 And Bubbles rncck'd the diftant Sight 
 
 We faw a Ihining Mountain rife, 
 Whofe tow'ring Summit reach'd the Skies : 
 The Slopes were deep, and form'd of Glafs, 
 Painful and hazardous to pafs : 
 Courtiers and Statefmen led the Way, 
 The faithlefs Paths their Steps betray ; 
 
 This 
 
( 53) 
 
 This Moment feen aloft to foar, 
 The next to fall and rife no more. 
 
 3 Twas here AMBITION kept his Court, 
 A Fantom of gigantic Port ; 
 The Fav'rite that fuilain'd his Throne, 
 Was FALSEHOOD, by her Vizard known ; 
 Next flood DISTRUST, with frequent Sigh, 
 Diforder'd Look, and fquinting Eye ; 
 While meagre ENVY claim*d a Place, 
 And JEALOUSY with jaundic'd Face. 
 
 But where is HAPPINESS ? I cryU 
 
 My Guardian turn'd, and thus reply'd. 
 
 Mortal, by Folly ftill beguil'd, 
 Thou haft not yet outftrip'd the Child 5 
 Thou, who hail Twenty Winters feen, 
 (I hardly think Thee pail Fifteen) 
 To ask if HAPPINESS can dwell 
 With every dirty Imp of Hell ! 
 Go to the School-boy, he ihall preach. 
 What Twenty Winters cannot teach : 
 He'll tell thee from his weekly Theme s 
 That thy Purfuit is all a Dream : 
 
 That 
 
( J9 ) 
 
 That Blifs in humble Robes is feen; 
 And leaves the Palace for the Green. 
 
 I blufh'd ; and now we crofs'd the Plain* 
 To find the Money-getting Train ; 
 Thofe filent, fnug, commercial Bands, 
 With bufy Looks, and dirty Hands. 
 For I coniider'd that the Old 
 Extracted HAPPINESS from Gold ; 
 And furely, if there's Blifs below, 
 Thefe hoary Heads the Secret know. 
 
 We journey 'd with the plodding Crew, 
 When foon a Temple rofe to View : 
 A Gothic Pile ! with Mofs o'er-grown ; 
 Whofe Walls deriv'd their Strength from Stone 
 Without a thoufand MaftifFs wait ; 
 A thoufand Bolts fecure the Gate. 
 We fought Admifiion long in vain ; 
 But here all Favours fell for Gain : 
 The greedy Porter yields to Gold, 
 Our Fee receiv'd, the Gates unfold. 
 AfTembled Nations here we found, 
 And view'd the cringing Herds around, 
 
 Who 
 
■ ( 60 ) 
 
 Who daily facrific'd to WEALTH, 
 Their Honour, Conference, Peace and Health. 
 I faw no Charms, that cou'd engage ; 
 The GOD appear'd like fordid Age, 
 With hooked Nofe> and famifh'd Jaws* 
 But Serpents' Eyes, and Harpys' Claws : 
 Behind Hood FEAR, that reftlefs Spright, 
 Which haunts the Watches of the Night j 
 And Viper-CARE, that flings fo deep, 
 Whofe deadly Venom murders Sleep. 
 
 We haften'd now to PLEASURE'S Bow'rs, 
 Where the gay Tribes fat crown'd with Flow'rs : 
 Here BEAUTY every Charm difplay'd, 
 And LOVE inflam'd the yielding Maid : 
 Delicious WINE our Tafle employs, 
 His crimfon Bowl exalts our Joys : 
 I felt its gen'rous Pow'r, and thought 
 The Pearl was found, that long I fought. 
 Determin'd here to fix my Home, 
 I blefs'd the Change, nor wifh'd to roam : 
 The SERAPH difapprov'd my Stay, 
 Spread her fair Plumes, and wing'd away. 
 
 Alas ! whene'er we talk of Blifs, 
 How prone is Man to judge amifs ! 
 
 See, 
 
(6j ) 
 
 See, a long Train of Ills confpires 
 To fcourge our uncontroui'd Defires. 
 Like Summer Swarms DISEASES croud, 
 Each bears a Crutch, or each a Shroud : 
 FEVER ! that thirfty Fury, came, 
 With inextinguifhable Flame; 
 CONSUMPTION, fworn Ally of DEATH! 
 Creep'd flowly on with panting Breath ; 
 GOUT, roar'd and fhew'd his throbbing Feet, 
 And DROPSY took the Drunkard's Seat; 
 STONE brought his tort'ring Racks; and near 
 Sat PALSY making in her Chair. 
 
 A mangled Youth, beneath a Shade, 
 A melancholy Scene difplay'd : 
 His nofelefs Face, and lep'rous Stains 5 
 Proclaim'd a Poifon in his Veins ; 
 He rais'd his Eyes, he fmote his Breaft, 
 He wept aloud, and thus addrefs'd. 
 
 Forbear the Harlot's falfe Embrace, 
 Tho' Lewdnefs wear an Angel's Face, 
 Be wife, by my Experience taught, 
 I die, alas ! for Want of Thought, 
 
( 6a ) 
 
 As he, who travels Libya's Plains* 
 Where the fierce Lion lawlefs reigns, 
 Is feiz'd with Fear, and wild Difmay, 
 When the grim Foe obftrudls his Way : 
 My Soul was pierc'd with equal Fright, 
 My tott'ring Limbs oppos'd my Flight j 
 I call'd on VIRTUE, but in vain, 
 Her Abfence quicken'd every Pain : 
 At length the flighted Angel heard, 
 
 The dear refulgent Form appear'd. 
 
 ■ 
 
 Prefumptuous Youth ! me faid, and frown'dj 
 (My Heart-firings flutter'd at the Sound) 
 W 7 ho turns to me reluctant Ears, 
 Shall fhed a Flood of future Tears. 
 Thefe Rivers fhall for ever 'laft, 
 There's no retracting what is pafl : 
 Nor think avenging Ills to fliun; 
 Play a falfe Card, and you're undone. 
 
 Of PLEASURE'S gilded Baits beware* 
 Nor tempt the Syren's fatal Snare : 
 Forego this curs'd, detefled Place, 
 I loath the Strumpet, and her Race : 
 
 Had 
 
(63 ) 
 
 Had you thefe mining Paths purfu'd, 
 Perdition, Stripling, had accru'd : 
 
 Yes, fly you ftandupon its Brink j 
 
 To-morrow is too late to think. 
 
 Indeed diftafteFul Truths I tell, 
 But mark my facred LefTons well : 
 With me whoever lives at Strife, 
 Lofes his better Friend for Life - 3 
 With me who lives in Friendship's Ties, 
 Finds all that's fought for by the Wife, 
 Folly exclaims, and well flie may, 
 Becaufe I take her Mafk away 5 
 If once I bring her to the Sun, 
 The painted Harlot is undone. 
 But prize, my Child, Oh ! prize my Rules, 
 And leave Deception to her Fools,. 
 
 AMBITION deals in Tinfel Joys, 
 His Traffic Gewgaws, Feathers, Toys : 
 An errant Jugler in Difguife, 
 Who holds falfe Optics to your Eyes, 
 But ah ! how fleet the Shadows pafs ! 
 Tho' the bright Vifions thro' his Glafs 
 Charm at a Diilance, yet, when near 3 
 The bafelefs Fabricks difappear. 
 
( 64 ) 
 
 Nor RICHES boaft intrinfic worth, 
 Their Charms, at beft, fuperior Earth : 
 Thefe oft the Heav'n-bom Mind enflave, 
 And make an honeft Man a Knave. 
 " Wealth cures my Wants," the Mifer cries, 
 Be not deceiv'd, the Mifer lies : 
 One Want he has with all his Store, 
 That worft of Wants ! the Want of more. 
 
 Take Pleafure, Wealth, and Pomp away, 
 And where is HAPPINESS, you fay ? 
 
 'Tis Here — and may be yours for, know, 
 
 I'm all that's Happinefs below. 
 
 To Vice I leave tumultuous joys, 
 Mine is the ftiil and fofter Voice ; 
 That whifpers Peace, when Storms invade, 
 And Mufic thro' the Midnight Shade. 
 
 Come then, be mine in every Part, 
 Nor give me lefs, than all your Heart ; 
 When Troubles difcompofe your Breaft, 
 I'll enter there a chearful Gueit : 
 My Converfe (hall your Cares beguile, 
 The little World within fliall fmile ; 
 
 And 
 
( 6 5 ) 
 
 And then it fcarce imports a Sot, 
 Whether the greater frowns or not. 
 
 And when the clofing Scenes prevail, 
 When Wealth, State, Pleafure, All ihall fail; 
 All that a foolifh World admires, 
 Or PaMicn craves, or Pride inspires j 
 At that important Hour of Need, 
 I'll prove a faithful Friend indeed ; 
 My Hands mail fmooth thy dying Bed, 
 My Arms fuftain thy drooping Head : 
 And when the painful Struggle's o'er, 
 And that vain Thing, the World, no more i 
 I'll bear my Fav'rite Son away, 
 To Rapture, and Eternal Day. 
 
 E FRIEND- 
 
FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 V I S I O N VI. 
 
 -Cs *r 
 
(69 ) 
 
 FRIE NDS HIP. 
 
 VISION VI. 
 
 FRIENDSHIP ! Thou foft, propitious Pow'r ! 
 Fair Regent of the focial Hour ! 
 Sublime thy Joys, nor underftood, 
 But by the Worthy and the Good ! 
 Tho' Vice aflumes thy (acred Name, 
 ? Tis all a bafe, deteiled Claim. 
 In Heav'n if Love and Friendfhip dwell, 
 Can they aflbciate e'er with Hell . ? 
 
 Thou art the fame thro' Change of Times, 
 Thro' frozen Zones, and burning Climes •, 
 From the ^Equator to the Pole, 
 The fame kind Angel thro' the Whole. 
 And fince thy Choice is always free, 
 I blels Thee for thy Smiles on me. 
 
 When Sorrows fwell the Temped high, 
 Thou, a kind Port, art always nigh ! 
 
 E % For 
 
(7°) 
 
 For broken Hearts a fov'reign Cure, 
 Not Mecchah Balfam half fo fure ! 
 And when returning Comforts rife, 
 Thou the bright Sun, that gilds our Skies ! 
 
 While thefe Ideas warm'd my Breaft, 
 My weary Eye-lids Hole to Reft ; 
 When Fancy reaffum'd the Theme, 
 And furniih'd this inftructive Dream, 
 
 I faiPd upon a (tor my Sea, 
 (Thoufands embark'd alike with me) 
 My Skiff was fmall, and weak befide, 
 Not built, methought, to item the Tide. 
 The Winds along the Surges fweep, 
 The Wrecks lie fcatter'd thro' the Deep ; 
 Aloud the foaming Billows roar, 
 Unfriendly Rocks obftrucl the Shore. 
 
 While all our various Courfe purfue, 
 A fpacious Ide faiutes our View. 
 Two Queens, with Tempers differing wide, 
 This new difcover'd World divide. 
 A River parts their proper Claim, 
 And TRUTH its celebrated Name, 
 
 1 law 
 
(7i ) 
 
 I faw a beauteous Trad of Ground, 
 With ev'ry Spot improv'd around. 
 The Seafons temp'rate, foft, and mild, 
 And a kind Sun, that always fmil'd. 
 Few Storms moleft the Natives here; 
 Cold is the only 111 they fear. 
 This happy Clime, and grateful Soil, 
 With Plenty crowns the Lab'rer's Toil. 
 
 Here FRIENDSHIP'S Kingdom gently grew, 
 Her Realms were fmall, her Subjects few, 
 A thoufand Charms the Palace grace, 
 A Rock of Adamant its Bafe. 
 Tho' Thunders roll, and Lightnings fly, 
 The Structure braves th' inclement Sky. 
 Ev'n TIME, which other Piles devours, 
 And mocks the Pride of human Pow'rs, 
 Partial to FRIENDSHIP'S Pile alone, 
 Cements the Joints, and binds the Stone •, 
 Ripens the Beauties of the Place, 
 And calls to Life each latent Grace. 
 
 Around the Throne, in Order ftand 
 Four Amazons, a trufty Band % 
 Friends ever faithful to advife, 
 Or to defend, when Dangers rife. 
 
 I; 4 Here's 
 
(7* ) 
 
 Here FORTITUDE in Coat of Mail, 
 There JUSTICE lifts her golden Scale; 
 Two hardy Chiefs ! who perfevere, 
 With Form erect, and Brow fevere ; 
 Who fmile at Perils, Pains and Death, 
 And triumph with their lateft Breath. 
 
 TEMP'RANCE, that comely Matron's near 
 Mother of all the VIRTUES Here j 
 Adorn'd with every blooming Grace, 
 Without one Wrinkle in her Face. 
 
 But PRUDENCE moft attracts the Sight, 
 And mines pre-eminently bright. 
 To view her various Thoughts that rife, 
 She holds a Mirrour to her Eyes ; 
 The Mirrour, faithful to its Charge, 
 Reflects the Virgin's Soul at large. 
 
 A VIRTUE with a fofter Air, 
 Was Handmaid to the regal Fair. 
 The Nymph, indulgent, conftant, kind, 
 Derives from Heav'n her fpotlefs Mind ; 
 When Actions wear a dubious Face, 
 puts the beft Meaning on the Cafe ; 
 
 She 
 
(73 ) 
 
 She fpreads her Hands, and bares her Breaft, 
 Takes in the Naked and Diftrefs'd ; 
 Prefers the hungry Orphan's Cries, 
 And from her Queen obtains Supplies. 
 The Maid, who acts this lovely Part, 
 Grafp'd in her Hand a bleeding Heart. 
 Fair CHARITY ! be Thou my Gueft, 
 And be thy conilant Couch my Breait. 
 
 But Virtues of inferior Name, 
 Croud round the Throne with equal Claim 5 
 In Loyalty by none furpafs'd, 
 They hold Allegiance to the laft. 
 Not ancient Records e'er can fhow, 
 That one deferted to the Foe, 
 
 As round I gaz'd, my Eye defcry'd 
 A pow'rful Realm extending wide ; 
 Whofe Bound'ries in the Eafi begun, 
 And flretch'd to meet the Southern Sun. 
 Here FLATT'RY boafts defpotic Sway, 
 And balks in all the Warmth of Day. 
 
 Long practis'd in Deception's School, 
 The Tyrant knew the Arts to rule ; 
 
 Elated 
 
( 74 ) 
 Elated with th' Imperial R.obe, 
 She plans the Conqueft of the Globe; 
 And aided by her fervile Trains, 
 Leads Kings and Sons of Kings, in Chains. 
 Her darling Miniiler is PRIDE, 
 (Who ne'er was known to change his Side) 
 A Friend to all her Interefts juft, 
 And active to difcharge his Truft ; 
 Carefs'd alike by high and low, 
 The Idol of the Belle and Beau : 
 Each Hour he mews the Statefman's Skill, 
 And forms the Subjects to his Will; 
 Enters their Houfes and their Hearts, 
 And gains his Point before He parts. 
 Sure never Minifter was known, 
 So zealous for his Sovereign's Throne ! 
 
 '&* 
 
 Three Sifters, fimilar in Mien, 
 Were Maids of Honour to the Queen j 
 Who farther Favours fhar'd befide, 
 As Daughters of her Statefman PRIDE. 
 The firft CONCEIT, with tow'ring Creft, 
 Who look'd with Scorn upon the reft ; 
 Fond of herfelf, nor lefs, I deem, 
 Than Dutchefs in her own Efteem, 
 
 Next 
 
(75) 
 
 Next AFFECTATION, fair and young, 
 With half-form'd Accents on her Tongue, 
 Whofe antic Shapes, and various Face, 
 Diftorted every native Grace. 
 
 Then VANITY, a wanton Maid, 
 Flaunting in Bmjfels, and Brocade ; 
 Fantaftic, frolickfome, and wild, 
 With all the Trinkets of a Child. 
 
 The People, loyal to their Queen, 
 Wore their Attachment in their Mien : 
 With chearful Heart they Homage paid, 
 And happier! He, who moil obey'd. 
 While They, who fought their own Applaufe, 
 Promoted moft their Sovereign's Caufe. 
 But ftill their Minds were fraught with Guile, 
 Their Manners diflblute and vile ; 
 And every Tribe, like Pagans, run 
 To kneel before the rifing Sun. 
 
 But now fome clam'rous Sounds arife, 
 And all the plealing Virion flies. 
 
 Once more I clos'd my Eyes to deep, 
 And gain'd th' imaginary Deep : 
 
 FANCY 
 
(7* ) 
 
 FANCY prefided at the Helm, 
 
 And fteer'd me back to FRIENDSHIP'S Realm. 
 
 But, oh ! with Horror I relate 
 
 The Revolutions of her State. 
 
 The Trojan Chief cou'd hardly more 
 
 His Afiatic Tow'rs deplore. 
 
 The TYRANT view'd thofe fairer Plains, 
 With longing Eyes, where FRIENDSHIP reigns j 
 With Envy heard her Neighbour's Fame, 
 And often figh'd to gain the fame. 
 At length, by Pride and Int'reft flr'd, 
 To FRIENDSHIP'S Kingdom me afpirU 
 
 And now Hie perfonates a Foe, 
 Now plans in Thought fome mighty Blow j 
 Drew out her Forces on the Green, 
 JDetermin'd to invade the Queen. 
 
 The River TRUTH their March withftood, 
 And roll'd her formidable Flood : 
 Her Current flrong, and deep, and clear, 
 No Fords were found, no Ferries near : 
 But as the Troops approach'd the Waves, 
 Their Fears fuggeft a Thoufand Graves; 
 
 They 
 
( 77 ) 
 
 They all retir'd with Hafte extreme, 
 And fhudder'd at the dang'rous Stream. 
 
 *o 
 
 HYPOCRISY the Gulph explores; 
 She forms a Bridge, and joins the Shores. 
 Thus often Art or Fraud prevails, 
 When military Prowefs fails. 
 The Troops an eafy Paffage find, 
 And Vicl'ry follows clofe behind. 
 
 FRIENDSHIP with Ardor charg'd her Foes, 
 And now the Fight promifcuous grows : 
 But FLATT'RY threw a poifon'd Dart, 
 And pierc'd the Emprefs to the Heart. 
 The VIRTUES all around were feen, 
 To fall in Heaps about the Queen. 
 The Tyrant ftrip'd the mangled Fair, 
 She wore her Spoils, aflum'd her Air ; 
 And mounting next the SufPrer's Throne, 
 Claim'd the Queen's Titles for her own. 
 
 Ah ! injur'd Maid, aloud I cry'd, 
 Ah! injur'd Maid, the Rocks reply'd: 
 But judge my Griefs, and fhare .them too, 
 For the fad Tale pertains to you. 
 
 Judge 
 
( 78 ) 
 
 Judge, Reader, hdw my Griefs abound, 
 When FRIENDSHIP'S Foes were mine I found j 
 When the late Scene of Pride and Guile 
 Was Britain's poor degen'rate Ifle. 
 
 The Amazons, who prop'd the State, 
 Haply furviv'd the general Fate. 
 JUSTICE to Powis-Houfe is fled, 
 And Torke fuftains her radiant Head. 
 The Virtue FORTITUDE appears 
 In open Day at Ligonier's ; 
 Illufirious Heroine of the Sky, 
 Who leads to vanquifh or to die ! 
 'Twas SHE our Vet'rans Breads infpir'd, 
 When Belgians faithlefs Sons retir'd : 
 For Tournafs treach'rous T ow'rs can tell 
 
 Britannia's Children greatly fell. 
 
 - 
 
 No partial Virtue of the Plain ! . - 
 
 She rous'd the Lions of the Main : 
 Hence f VERNON's little Fleet fucceed ; 
 Hence gen'rous *CORNEWALL chofe to bleed ; 
 Hence || GREENVILLE glorious!— for fhe fmil'd 
 On the young Hero from a Child. 
 
 The/ 
 
 t At Forto-Bello. * Againft the combin'd Fleets of Franc* and 
 
 Spam. j| Died m a later Engagement with the French Fleet. 
 
(79) 
 
 Tho' in high Life fuch Virtues dwell. 
 They'll fuit Plebeian Breads as well. 
 Say, that the Mighty and the Great 
 Blaze like Meridian Suns of State j 
 Effulgent Excellence difplay, 
 Like HALIFAX in Floods of Day ; 
 Our leffer Orbs ihall pour their Light, 
 Like the mild Crefcent of the Night. 
 Tho' pale our Beams, and fmall our Sphere, 
 Still we will mine ferene and clear. 
 
 Give to the Judge the Scarlet Gown, 
 To martial Souls the Civic Crown : 
 What then ? Is Merit their's alone ? 
 Have we no Worth to call our own ? 
 Shall we not vindicate our Part, 
 In the firm Bread, and upright Heart ? 
 Reader, thefe Virtues may be thine, 
 Tho' in fuperior Life they mine. 
 I can't difcharge great HARDWICK's Truft- 
 True — but my Soul ihall frill be juft. 
 And tho' I can't the State defend, 
 I'll draw the Sword to ferve my Friend. 
 
 Two golden Virtues are behind, 
 Of equal Import to the Mind, 
 
 
( 8o ) 
 
 Thefe Virtues, let the World agree, 
 Are conftant Guefts to you and me. 
 Or rather let them all prevail, 
 We'll hold the Mirrour, and the Scale ; 
 Reftrain Defires, that foar too high, 
 And dare be honeft, tho' we die. 
 
 ■ ) 
 
 MAR- 
 
MARRIAGE. 
 
 VISION VII. 
 
( s 3 ) 
 
 MARRIAGE. 
 
 VISION VII. 
 
 Infcrib'd to Mifs * * * * * 
 
 AIREST, this Vifion is thy Due, 
 I form'd th' inftruftive Plan for You, 
 Slight not the Rules of thoughtful Age, 
 Your Welfare actuates every Page ; 
 But ponder well my facred Theme, 
 And tremble, while you read my Dream. 
 
 Thofe awful Words, " 'Till Death do part," 
 May well alarm the youthful Hear: : 
 No After-thought when once a Wife ! 
 The Card is play'd, and play'd for Liie ; 
 Yet Thoufands venture every Day, 
 As fome bafe PafTion leads the Way. 
 
 F 2 Perc 
 
( »4) 
 Pert Silvia talks of Wedlock-Scenes, 
 Tho' hardly enter'd on her Teens ; 
 Smiles on her whining Spark, and hears 
 The fugar'd Speech with raptur'd Ears j 
 Impatient of a Parent's Rule, 
 She leaves her Sire, and weds a Fool : 
 WANT enters at the guardlefs Door, 
 And LOyE is fled, to come no more. 
 
 Some few there are of fordid Mould, 
 Who barter Youth and Bloom for Gold ; 
 Carelefs with what, or whom, they mate, 
 Their ruling Pafiion's all for State. 
 But KYMEN, gen'rous, juft, and kind, 
 Abhors the mercenary Mind : 
 Such Rebels groan beneath his Rod, 
 For HYMEN's a vindictive God ; 
 Be joylefs every Night, he faid, 
 And barren be their nuptial Bed. 
 
 Attend, my Fair, to Wifdom's Voice, 
 A better Fate mall crown thy Choice. 
 A married Life, to fpeak the beil, 
 Is all a Lottery confeft : 
 Yet if my Fair-one will be wife, 
 I will infure my Girl a Prize } 
 
 Tho 5 
 
( S5 ) 
 
 Tho' not a Prize to match thy Worth, 
 Perhaps thy Equal's not on Earth. 
 
 5 Tis an important Point to know, 
 There's no Perfection here below. 
 Man's an odd Compound after ail, 
 And ever has been fince the Fall. 
 Say, that he loves you from his Soul, 
 Still he's a Lover of Controul : 
 And tho' a Slave in Love's foft School, 
 In Wedlock claims his Right to rule. 
 The belt, in Ihort, has Faults about him, 
 If few thofe Faults, you muft not flout him, 
 With fome indeed, you can't difpenfe, 
 As Want of Temper, and of Senfe, 
 For when the Sun deferts the Skies, 
 And the dull Winter Evenings rife, 
 Then for a Hufband's genial Pow'r, 
 To form the calm, converfive Hour ; 
 The Treafures of thy Breafl explore, 
 From the rich Mine to fetch the Ore j 
 Fondly each fterling Thought refine, 
 And give thy native Gold to mine ; 
 Shew Thee, what really Thou art, 
 Tho' fair, yet faireit at the Heart, 
 
 oay. 
 
( 86 ) 
 
 Say, when Life's purple Bloflbms fade, 
 As foon they mufl, thou charming Maid * 
 When in thy Cheeks the Rofes die, 
 And Sicknefs clouds that brilliant Eye 5 
 Say, when or Age or Pains invade, 
 And thofe dear Limbs fhall call for Aid , 
 If thou art fetter'd to a Fool, 
 Shall not his tranfient Paffion cool ! 
 And when thy Health and Beauty end, 
 Shall thy weak Mate perfift a Friend ! 
 But to a Man of Senfe, my Dear, 
 Ev'n then thou lovely fhalt appear ; 
 He'll fhare the Griefs that wound thy Heart 3 
 And weeping claim the larger Part ; 
 Tho' Age impairs that beauteous Face, 
 He'll prize the Pearl beyond its Cafe. 
 
 In Wedlock when the Sexes meet, 
 Friendfhip is then alone compleat. 
 " Bleil State ! where Sculs each other draw, 
 " Where Love is Liberty and Law ! 
 The choiceft Bleffing found below, 
 That Man can wifh, cr Heav'n bellow ! 
 Trufl; me, thefe Raptures are divine, 
 For charming CIILOS once was mine I 
 
 Nor 
 
(«7) 
 
 Nor fear the Varnifh of my Stile, 
 Tho' Poet, I'm eftrang'd to Guile. 
 Ah me ! my faithful Lips impart 
 The genuine Language of my Heart ! 
 
 When Bards extol their Patrons high^ 
 Perhaps 'tis Gold extorts the Lye % 
 Perhaps, the poor Reward of Bread » «■ \ 
 But who burns Incenfe to the Dead ! 
 HE, whom a fond Affection draws, 
 Carelefs of Cenfure, or Applaufe ; 
 Whofe Soul is upright, and fincere, 
 With nought to wifh, and nought to fear* 
 
 Now to my vifionary Scene, 
 Your Wit mall find out what I mean. 
 
 AMIDST the Slumbers of the Night 
 A ftately Temple 'rofc to Sight ; 
 And ancient as the human Race, 
 Hiftoric Records if you trace. 
 This Fane, by all the Wife rever'd, 
 To WEDLOCK'S pow'rful God was rearU 
 Hard by I faw a graceful Sage, 
 His Locks were frofted o'er by Age 5 
 
 F 4 His 
 
( 88 ) 
 
 His Garb was plain, his Mind ferene, 
 
 And frank and open was his Mien. 
 
 With curious Search his Name I fought, 
 
 And found 'twas HYMEN's Fav'rite— THOUGHT. 
 
 Apace the giddy Crouds advance. 
 And a lev/d Satyr led the Dance : 
 I griev'd to fee whole Thoufands run, 
 For oh ! what Thoufands were undone ! 
 The Sage, when thefe mad Troops he 'fpy'd, 
 In Pity flew to join their Side : 
 The difconcerted Pairs began 
 To rail againft him to a Man •, 
 Vow'd they were Strangers to his Name, 
 Nor knew from whence the Dotard came. 
 
 But mark the Sequel for this Truth 
 
 Highly concerns impetuous Youth : 
 Tong ere the Honey Moon cou'd wane, 
 Perdition feiz'd en every Twain : 
 At every Houfe, and all Day long, 
 REPENTANCE ply'd her Scorpion Thong ; 
 DISGUST was there with frowning Mien, 
 And every wayward Child of SPLEEN. 
 
 HYMEN 
 
(89 ) 
 
 HYMEN approach'd his awful Fane, 
 Attended by a numerous Train : 
 LOVE with each foft and namelefs Grace, 
 Was firft in Favour, and in Place : 
 Then came the GOD with folemn Gait 5 
 Whofe every Word was big with Fate ; 
 His Hand a flaming Taper bore, 
 That facred Symbol, fam'd of yore : 
 VIRTUE, adorn'd with every Charm, 
 Suftain'd the God's incumbent Arm : 
 BEAUTY improv'd the glowing Scene 
 With all the Rofes of Eighteen : 
 YOUTH led the gayly fmiling Fair, 
 His purple Pinions wav'd in Air : 
 WEALTH, a clofe Hunks, was hobling nigh, 
 With Vulture-Claw, and Eagle-Eye, 
 Who Threefcore Years had ieen, or more, 
 ('Tis faid his Coat had (ttn a Score *,) 
 Proud was the Wretch, tho' clad in Rags, 
 Prefuming much upon his Bags, 
 
 A Female next her Arts difplay'd, 
 Poets alone can paint the Maid : 
 Truft me, Hogarth, (tho' great thy Fame) 
 'Twou'd pofe thy Skill to draw the fame •, 
 
 And 
 
( 9° > 
 
 And yet thy mimic Pow'r is more 
 Than ever Painter's was before : 
 Now fhe was fair as Cygnet's Down, 
 Now as King Henrfs Emma, broWn ; 
 And changing as the changing Flow'r, 
 Her Drefs fhe varied every Hour : 
 
 'Twas FANCY, Child ! You know the Fair* 
 
 Who pins your Gown, and fets your Hair. 
 
 Lo ! the God mounts his Throne of State s 
 And (its the Arbiter of Fate : 
 His Head, with radiant Glories dreft, 
 Gently reclin'd on VIRTUE'S Breaft : 
 As LOVE and BEAUTY moft delight, 
 They took their Stations on the Right : 
 "While on the God's inferior Hand 
 FANCY and WEALTH obtain'd their Stand, 
 
 And now the haUow'd Rites proceed, 
 And now a thcufand Heart-firings bleed, 
 I faw a blooming, trembling Bride, 
 A toothlefs Lover joined her Side •, 
 Averfe fhe turn'd her weeping Face, 
 And iliudcki'd at the cold Embrace, 
 
 But 
 
( 9i ) 
 
 But various Baits befet the Gin, 
 Or why fuch Numbers venture in ? 
 A Paffion, much too foul to name, 
 And hungry Stomachs prompt the fame* 
 Thus Poets often wed to Dinners, 
 And Prudes to Publicans and Sinners. 
 
 The God with Frown indignant view'd 
 The Rabble covetous or lewd ; 
 By every Vice his Altars ftain'd, 
 By every Fool his Rites profan'd : 
 When LOVE complain'd of WEALTH aloud, 
 Affirming WEALTH debauch'd the Croud 5 
 Drew up in Form his heavy Charge, 
 Dcfiring to be heard at large. 
 
 The God confents, the Throng divide. 
 The Young efpous'd the Plaintiff's Side 5 
 The Old declar'd for the Defendant^ 
 For Age is Money's fworn Attendant. 
 
 LOVE faid, that Wedlock was defign'd s 
 By gracious Heav'n, to match the Mind % 
 To pair the Tender and the Juft, 
 And His the delegated Truft ; 
 
 Th 
 
( 92 ) 
 
 That WEALTH had play'd a knavifli Part, 
 And taught the Tongue to wrong the Heart ; 
 Had join'd the Hands of different Souls, 
 As diitant as the diftant Poles. 
 
 WEALTH ftrait reply'd, that LOVE was blind, 
 
 And talk'd at random of the Mind ; 
 
 That killing Eyes, and bleeding Hearts, 
 
 And all th' Artillery of Darts, 
 
 Were long ago exploded Fancies, 
 
 And Jaugh'd at even in Romances. 
 
 Poets indeed ftile Love a Treat, 
 
 Perhaps for Want of better Meat : 
 
 And Love might be delicious Fare, 
 
 Cou'd we, like Poets, dine on Air. 
 
 But grant that Angels feaft on Love, 
 
 (Thofe purer EiTences above) 
 
 Yet ALBION'S Sons, He underftood, 
 
 Preferr'd a more fubftantial Food. 
 
 Thus while with Gibes he drefs'd his Caufe 3 
 
 His grey Admirers hemm'd Applaufe, 
 
 With feeming Conqueft pert and proud,- 
 WEALTH fhook his Sides and chuckled loud 5 
 When FORTUNE, to retrain his Pride, 
 Ami fond to favour LOVE befide, 
 
 Op'ning 
 
( 93 ) 
 
 Op'ning the Mifer's Tape-ty'd Veil, 
 Difclos'd the CARES which flung his Breaft. 
 WEALTH flood abafh'd at this Difgrace, 
 And a deep Crimfon fiufh'd his Face. 
 
 LOVE fweetly fimper'd at the Sight, 
 His gay Adherents laugh'd outright. 
 The God, tho' grave his Temper, fmil'd, 
 For HYMEN dearly priz'd the Child. 
 But he who triumphs o'er his Brother, 
 In turn is laugh'd at by another. 
 Such cruel Scores we often find 
 Repaid the Criminal in Kind. 
 For POVERTY, that famifh'd Fiend ! 
 Ambitious of a wealthy Friend, 
 Advanc'd into the Mifer's Place, 
 And flar'd the Stripling in the Face ; 
 Whofe Lips grew pale, and cold as Clay ; 
 I thought the Chit would fwoon away. 
 
 The God was fludious to employ 
 His Cares to aid the vanquifh'd Boy : 
 And therefore ifili'd his Decree, 
 That the two Parties ftrait agree. 
 When both obey'd the God's Commands, 
 And ioin'd their amicable Hands. 
 
 What 
 
( 94 ) 
 
 What wond'rous Change in each was wrought, 
 Believe me, Fair, furpaffes Thought. 
 If LOVE had many Charms before, 
 He now had Charms, ten thoufand more. 
 If WEALTH had Serpents in his Breaft, 
 They now were dead, or lulPd to Reft. 
 
 BEAUTY, that vain affected Thing, 
 Who jom'd the Hymeneal Ring, 
 Approach'd with round unthinking Face, 
 And thus the Trifler ftates her Cafe, 
 
 She faid, that LQVE's Complaints, 'twas known, 
 Exactly tally'd with her own •, 
 That WEALTH had learn'd the Felon's Arts, 
 And robb'd her of a thoufand Hearts ; 
 Pefiring Judgment againft WEALTH, 
 For Faifehood, Perjury, and Stealth : 
 All which fhe cou'd on Oath depofe, 
 And hop'd the Court wou'd flit his Nofe. 
 
 But HYMEN, when he heard her Name, 
 CalPd her an interloping Dame •, 
 Look'd thro' the Croud with angry State, 
 And blam'd the Porter at the Gate, 
 
 For 
 
( 95 ) 
 
 For giving Entrance to the Fair, 
 When fhe was no Effential there. 
 
 To fink this haughty Tyrant's Pride, 
 He order'd FANCY to prefide. 
 Hence, when Debates on Beauty rife, 
 And each bright Fair difputes the Prize, 
 To FANCY'S Court we ftrait apply, 
 And wait the Sentence of her Eye ; 
 In BEAUTY'S Realms fhe holds the Seals, 
 And her Awards preclude Appeals. 
 
 LIFE,. 
 
LIFE. 
 
 VISION the Laft. 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 / F 
 
 V I S I O N the Laft, 
 
 LET not the Young my Precepts fhun, 
 One Vifion more, and I have done; 
 Your Poet fung of Love's Delights, 
 Of Halcyon Days and joyous Nights ; 
 To the gay Fancy lovely Themes ; 
 And fain, I'd hope, they're more than Dreams i 
 But, if you pleafe, before we part, 
 I'd fpeak a Language to your Heart, 
 We'll talk of LIFE, tho' much, I fear, 
 Th' ungrateful Tale will wound your Ear. 
 You raife your fanguine Thoughts too high, 
 And hardly know the Reafon why : 
 But fay, Life's Tree bears golden Fruit, 
 Some Canker fnall corrode the Root -, 
 Some unexpected Storm fhall rife \ 
 Or fcorching Suns, or chilling Skies j 
 
 G 2 Anc! 
 
( IOO ) 
 
 And (if experienced Truths avail) 
 All your autumnal Hopes mall fail. 
 
 Perhaps you'll think I act the fame, 
 As a fly Sharper plays his Game : 
 You triumph every Deal that's pah 1 , 
 He's fure to triumph at the laft, 
 Who coins, perhaps, fome Thoufands more 
 Than twice the Sums you won before. 
 But I'm a Lofer with the reft •, 
 For Life is all a Deal 2t belt ; 
 I play the Cards alike with you, 
 My Hand is bad, my Trumps are few ; . 
 Nor am I Gainer by your Fall ; 
 For Sorrows are the Lot of all. 
 
 'Tis Truth (receive it ill or well) 
 9 Tis melanclioly Truth I tell. 
 Why mould the Preacher take your Pence, 
 P- nd fmother Truth to flatter Senfe ? 
 I'm fure, Phyficians have no Merit, 
 Who kill, thro' Lenity of Spirit. 
 
 That Life's a Game, Divines confefs, 
 This fays at Cards, and That at Chefs ; 
 But if our Views be center'd here, 
 *Tis all a lofmg Game I fear. 
 
 Sailors, 
 
( ioi ) 
 
 Sailors, you know, when Wars obtain. 
 And hoftile Veflels croud the Main, 
 If they difcover from afar 
 A bark as diftant as a Star, 
 Hold the Perfpectives to their Eyes, 
 To learn its Colours^ Strength and Size 5 
 And when this Secret once they know, 
 Make ready to receive the Foe. 
 Let you and I from Sailors learn 
 Important Truths of like Concern. 
 
 I clos'd the Day, as Cuftom led, 
 With Reading, till the Time of Bed ; 
 Where Fancy, at the Midnight Hour, 
 Again difplay'd her magic i ow'r. 
 (For know, that Fancy, like a Spright, 
 Prefers the filent Scenes of Night.) 
 She lodg'd me in a neighb'ring Wood, 
 No matter where the Thicket flood ; 
 The GENIUS of the Place was nigh. 
 And held two Pictures to my Eye. 
 The curious Painter had portray'd 
 LIFE in each juft and genuine Shade. 
 They, who have only known its Dawn, 
 May think thefe Lines too deeply drawn ; 
 But riper Years, [ fear, will fhevv, 
 The wifer Artiil paints too true, 
 
 One 
 
( 102 ) 
 
 One Piece prefents a rueful Wild, 
 Where not a Summer's Sun had fmil'd % 
 The Road with Thorns is cover'd wide* 
 And GRIEF fits weeping by the Side \ 
 Her Tears with conilant Tenor flow, 
 And form a mournful Lake below ; 
 Whofe filent Waters, dark and deep a 
 Thro' all the gloomy Valley creep. 
 
 Pafilons, that flatter, or that flay, 
 Are Beads that fawn, or Birds that prey. 
 Here VICE afiumes the Serpent's Shape % 
 There FOLLY perfonates the Ape ; 
 Here AV'RICE gripes with Harpys' Claws* 
 There MALICE grins with Tygers' Jaws ; 
 W r hile Sons of Mifchief, ART and GUILE, 
 Are Alligators of the Nik* 
 
 Ev'n PLEASURE afts a treacherous Part* 
 She charms the Senfc, but flings the Heart. 
 And when fhe gulls us of our Wealth, 
 Or that fuperior Pearl, our Health ; 
 Reftores us nought, but Pains and Woe,- 
 And drowns us in the LAKE below. 
 
 There 
 
( i°3 ) 
 
 There a commiffion'd ANGEL Hands, 
 With Defolation in his Hands ! 
 He fends the all-devouring Flame, 
 And Cities hardly boaft a Name. 
 Or wings the peftilential Blaft, 
 And lo ! ten thoufands breathe their laft. 
 
 He fpeaks obedient Tempefts roar. 
 
 And guilty Nations are no more : 
 
 Ke fpeaks the Fury DISCORD raves, 
 
 And fweeps whole Armies to their Graves ; 
 Or FAMINE lifts her mildew'd Hand, 
 And HUNGER howls thro 5 all the Land. 
 
 Oh ! what a Wretch is Man, I cry'd, 
 Expos'd to Death on every Side ! 
 A id fure as born, to be undone 
 By Evils, which He cannot fhun ! 
 "Without a thoufand Baits to Sin, 
 A thoufand Traytors lodg'd within ! 
 For foon as Vice affaults the Heart:, 
 Thefe Rebels take the Daemon's Fart. 
 
 I figh, my aching Bofom bleeds j 
 When ftrait a milder i/lan fucceeds. 
 The briny Lake, the dreary Shore, 
 The lame as in the Piece before. 
 
 Bur 
 
( io 4 ) 
 
 But Gleams of Light are here difplay'd, 
 To chear the Eye, and gild the Shade. 
 AFFLICTION fpeaks a fofter Stile, 
 And DISAPPOINTMENT wears a Smile, 
 Each thriving Virtue blofTcms near, 
 Their Roots improve by every Tear. 
 
 Here PATIENCE, gentle Maid ! is nigh 3 
 To calm the Storm, and wipe the Eye : 
 HOPE acts the kind Phyfician's Part, 
 And warms the folitary Heart •, 
 RELIGION nobler Comforts brings, 
 Difarms our Griefs, or blunts their Siings 5 
 Points out the Ballance on the Whole, 
 And HEAV'N rewards the flruggling Soul. 
 
 But while thefe Raptures I purfue, 
 The GENIUS fuddenly withdrew. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
•>