('Tis virtue can alone impart
The patent of a ducal heart:
Unless this herald fpeaks him great,
What fhall avail the glare of ftate?)
Thofe fecret charms are my delight,
Which fhine remote from public sight :
Paffions fubdued, defires at rest-
And hence his chaplain fhares! my breaft.

There was a time (his Grace can tell)
I knew the Duke exceeding well;
Knew ev'ry fecret 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: .r
Yes, welcome to à man in power;
And fo I was--for half an hour.
But he grew weary of his guest,
And foon difcarded me his breaft;

1

Upbraid

Upbraided me with want of merit,
But most for poverty of spirit.

You relish 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 oftner dwells With modeft worth in humble cells; There's no complaint, tho' brown the bread, Or the cold ftone fuftain the head;

Tho' hard the couch, and coarfe the meat, Still the brown loaf and fleep are sweet.

Far from the city I refide,

And a thatch'd cottage all my pride.
True to my heart, I feldom roam,
Because I find my joys at home:
For foreign vifits then begin,
When the man feels a void within.

But

But tho' from towns and crouds I fly, No humourist, nor cynic, I. Amidft fequefter'd fhades I prize The friendships of the good and wife. Bid VIRTUE and her fons attend, VIRTUE will tell thee, I'm her friend; Tell thee, I'm faithful, conftant, kind, And meek, and lowly, and refign'd; Will fay, there's no diftinction known Betwixt her houshold and my own.

Author. If these the friendships you purfue,
Your friends, I fear, are 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 night,

And ask my heart, if all be right:
If, "

right," replies my faithful breast,

I smile and clofe my eyes to rest.

Author.

Author. You feem regardlefs of the town: Pray, Sir, how stand you with the

gown?

Content. The clergy fay, they love me well; Whether they do, they best can tell : They paint me modeft, friendly, wife, And always praise me to the skies ; But if conviction's at the heart, Why not a correspondent part? For shall the learned tongue prevail, If actions preach a diff'rent tale? Who'll feek my door, or grace my walls, When neither dean nor prelate calls?

With those my friendships most obtain, Who prize their duty more than gain; Soft flow the hours whene'er we meet, And confcious virtue is our treat; Our harmless breasts 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 wish the beft to church and ftate, But leave the steerage to the great;

Care

Careless, who rifes, or who falls,
And never dream of vacant ftalls;
Much lefs by pride or int'reft drawn,
Sigh for the mitre, and the lawn.

Obferve the fecrets of my art,
I'll fundamental truths impart :
And if you'll my advice pursue,
I'll quit my hut and dwell with you.

The paffions are a numerous croud,
Imperious, pofitive, and loud:
Curb thefe licentious fons of ftrife;
Hence chiefly rife the ftorms of life;
If they grow mutinous and rave,
They are thy mafters, thou their flave.

Regard the world with cautious eye,
Nor raise your expectation high.
See that the balanc'd fcales be fuch,
You neither fear, nor hope too much.
For difappointment's not the thing;
"Tis pride and paffion point the fting.

Life