And which more bleft? who chain'd his country, say, Or he whofe Virtue figh'd to lose a day? "But fometimes Virtue starves, while Vice is fed." What then? Is the reward of Virtue bread? That, Vice may merit, 'tis the price of toil; when he tills the foil, when he tempts the main, 150 155 The knave deferves it, Where folly fights for kings, or dives for gain. The good man may be weak, be indolent; Nor is his claim to plenty, but content. But grant him riches, your demand is o'er? "No-fhall the good want Health, the good want "Power?" Add Health and Power, and every earthly thing, Why is not Man a God, and Earth a Heaven? The foul's calm fun-fhine, and the heart-felt joy, Justice a Conqueror's fword, or Truth a gown, VARIATION. After ver. 172. in the MS. Say, what rewards this idle world imparts, 379 Weak, Weak, foolish man! will Heaven reward us there Expect thy dog, thy bottle, and thy wife; Oh fool! to think God hates the worthy mind, Whofe life is healthful, and whofe confcience clear, 175 180 185 190 Honour and fhame from no Condition rife; Act well your part, there all the honour lies. Fortune in Men has fome fmall difference made, One flaunts in rags, one flutters in brocade; The cobler apron'd, and the parfon gown'd, The frier hooded, and the monarch crown'd. 195 200 "What differ more (you cry) than crown and cow!!" Work Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow : Stuck o'er with titles and hung round with ftrings, That thou may'st be by kings, or whores of kings. Boaft the pure blood of an illuftrious race, In quiet flow from Lucrece to Lucrece : But by your fathers' worth if your's you rate, Nor own your fathers have been fools fo long. 210 215 Look next on Greatnefs; fay where Greatnefs lies "Where, but among the Heroes and the Wife ?" Heroes are much the fame, the point 's agreed, From Macedonia's madman to the Swede; The whole strange purpose of their lives, to find Or make, an enemy of all mankind! Not one looks backward, onward still he goes, Yet ne'er looks forward further than his nose. No lefs alike the Politic and Wife: All fly flow things, with circumfpective eyes : VARIATION. 220 225 Men Ver. 207. Boaft the pure blood, &c.] In the MS. thus, Men in their loose unguarded hours they take, Not that themselves are wife, but others weak. What's Fame? a fancy'd life in others' breath, 230 235 A thing beyond us, ev'n before our death. Just what you hear, you have, and what's unknown The fame (my Lord) if Tully's, or your own. 240 All that we feel of it begins and ends Alike or when, or where they fhone, or fhine, 245 Or on the Rubicon, or on the Rhine. A Wit's a feather, and a Chief a rod; An honeft Man 's the nobleft work of God. Fame but from death a villain's name can fave, 250 As Juftice tears his body from the grave; Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart: And And more true joy Marcellus exil'd feels, In Parts fuperior what advantage lies? Without a fecond, or without a judge: Truths would you teach, or fave a finking land? 260 265 Above life's weakness, and its comforts too. Bring then these bleffings to a strict account; Make fair deductions; fee to what they mount: 270 How much of other each is fure to coft; How each for other of is wholly loft; How inconfiftent greater goods with these ; Say, would'ft thou be the Man to whom they fall? 275 280 If |