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But, in its proper channels gliding fair;
A common benefit, which all may share.
Yet half mankind this easy good disdain,
Nor relish happiness unbought by pain;

Falfe is their tafte of blifs, and thence their search
is vain.

So idle, yet fo reftlefs, are our minds,

We climb the Alps, and brave the raging winds;
Through various toils to feek Content we roan,
Which with but thinking right were ours at home.
For not the ceafelefs change of shifted place
Can from the heart a fettled grief erafe,
Nor can the purer balm of foreign air
Heal the distemper'd mind of aking care.
The wretch, by wild impatience driven to rove,
Vext with the pangs of ill-requited love,
From Pole to Pole the fatal arrow bears,
Whofe rooted point his bleeding bofom tears;
With equal pain each different clime he tries,
And is himself that torment which he flies.

For how fhould ills, which from our paffions flow,
Be chang'd by Africk's heat, or Ruffia's fnow?
Or how can aught but powerful reason cure
What from unthinking folly we endure?
Happy is He, and He alone, who knows
His heart's uneafy difcord to compofe;
In generous love of others good, to find
The fweeteft pleasures of the focial mind;
To bound his wishes in their proper sphere;

To nourish pleasing hope, and conquer anxious fear :

This was the wifdom ancient fages taught,

This was the fovereign good they justly fought;
This to no place or climate is confin'd,

But the free native produce of the mind.

Nor think, my Lord, that courts to you deny
The useful practice of philofophy :

Horace, the wifeft of the tuneful choir,
Not always chofe from greatness to retire ;
But, in the palace of Auguftus, knew
The fame unerring maxims to purfue,
Which, in the Sabine or the Velian fhade,
His study and his happiness he made.

May you, my friend, by his example taught,
View all the giddy scene with fober thought;
Undazzled every glittering folly fee,

And in the midst of flavish forms be free;
In its own centre keep your steady mind,
Let Prudence guide you, but let Honour hind. -
In fhow, in manners, act the courtier's part;
But be a country gentleman at heart.

AD VICE TO ALAD Y.

THE counfels of a friend, Belinda, hear,
Too roughly kind to please a lady's ear,

Unlike the flatteries of a lover's pen,

Such truths as women feldom learn from men.

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Nor think I praife you ill, when thus I show
What female vanity might fear to know.
Some merit 's mine, to dare to be fincere;
But greater yours, fincerity to bear.

Hard is the fortune that your fex attends;
Women, like princes, find few real friends:
All who approach them their own ends pursue ;
Lovers and Minifters are seldom true.

Hence oft from Reafon heedlefs Beauty strays, And the most trusted guide the most betrays : Hence, by fond dreams of fancied power amus'd, When moft ye tyrannize, you're most abus'd. What is your fex's earliest, latest care, Your heart's fupreme ambition ? —To be fair. For this, the toilet every thought employs, Hence all the toils of drefs, and all the joys: For this, hands, lips, and eyes, are put to school, And each inftructed feature has its rule: And yet how few have learnt, when this is given, Not to difgrace the partial boon of Heaven! How few with all their pride of form can move! How few are lovely, that are made for love! Do

you, my fair, endeavour to poffefs An elegance of mind as well as dress;

Be that your ornament, and know to please
By graceful Nature's unaffected ease.

Nor make to dangerous wit a vain pretence,
But wifely reft content with modest sense;
For wit, like wine, intoxicates the brain,
Too strong for feeble woman to sustain:

of

Of those who claim it more than half have none;
And half of thofe who have it are undone.

Be ftill fuperior to your, fex's arts,
Nor think difhonesty a proof of parts:
For you, the plaineft is the wifest rule :
A cunning woman is a knavish fool.

Be good yourself, nor think another's shame
Can raife your merit, or adorn your fame.
Prudes rail at whores, as ftatefmen in difgracé
At minifters, because they wish their place.
Virtue is amiable, mild, ferene;
Without, all beauty; and all peace within
The honour of a prude is rage and storm,
'Tis ugliness in its most frightful form,
Fiercely it ftands, defying gods and men,
As fiery monfters guard a giant's den.

:.

Seek to be good, but aim not to be great:
A woman's nobleft ftation is retreat :
Her faireft virtues fly from public fight,
Domestic worth, that fhuns too ftrong a light.
To rougher man Ambition's task resign:
'Tis ours in fenates or in courts to shine,.
To labour for a funk corrupted state,
Or dare the rage of Envy, and be great.
One only care your gentle breasts should move,
Th' important bufinefs of your life is love;
To this great point direct your conftant aim,
This makes your happiness, and this your fame.
Be never cool referve with paffion join'd;
With caution chufe; but then be fondly kind.

The

The selfish heart, that but by halves is given,
Shall find no place in Love's delightful heaven;
Here sweet extremes alone can truly bless:
The virtue of a lover is excefs.

A maid unask'd may own a well-plac'd flame;
Not loving first, but loving wrong, is fhame,
Contemn the little pride of giving pain,
Nor think that conqueft juftifies disdain.
Short is the period of infulting power:
Offended Cupid finds his vengeful hour;
Soon will refume the empire which he gave,
And foon the tyrant shall become the flave..

Bleft is the maid, and worthy to be bleft,
Whofe foul, entire by him he loves poffeft,
Feels every vanity in fondness loft,

And asks no power but that of pleasing moft: -
Hers is the blifs, in just return, to prove
The honeft warmth of undiffembled love;
For her, inconftant man might cease to range,
And gratitude forbid defire to change.

But, left harsh care the lover's peace destroy,
And roughly blight the tender buds of joy,
Let Reason teach what Paffion fain would hide,,
That Hymen's bands by Prudence fhould be tied,
Venus in vain the wedded pair would crown,
If angry Fortune on their union frown:
Soon will the flattering dream of blifs be o'er,
And cloy'd imagination cheat no more.
Then, waking to the sense of lasting pain,
With mutual tears the nuptial couch they stain;

And

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