Then deeper finks, plung'd in the pit of Woe, Worfe fuff'rings in worse hell to undergo: Unless, rare guest, Repentance o'er the gloom Diffuse her radiance, and repeal his doom.
She comes! meek-ey'd, array'd in grave attire, 205 See Right Opinion, join'd with Good Defire, Handmaids of Truth: with those, an adverse pair (Falfe Wifdom's minions, that deceiving fair) Attend her folemn step: the furies flee. Come forth, fhe calls, come forth to liberty, Guilt-harrafs'd thrall: thy future lot decide, And, pond'ring well, elect thy future guide. Momentous option! choofing right, he'll find A fov'reign med'cine for his ulcer'd mind; Led to True Wisdom, whofe cathartic bowl Recovers and beatifies the foul. Misguided elfe, a counterfeit he'll gain, Whofe art is only to amuse the brain : From vice to studious folly now he flies, From bliss still erring, ftill betray'd by lies.
O heavens! where end the risks we mortals run? How dreadful this, and yet how hard to fhun! Say, father, what diftinctive marks declare That counterfeit of Wisdom?
At yonder gate, with decent port, she stands, Her spotless form that second court commands: Styl❜d Wisdom by the crowd, the thinking few Know her disguise, the phantom of the true: Skill'd in all learning, fkill'd in every art Το grace the head, not meliorate the heart. The fav'd, who meditate their noble flight From a bad world, to Wifdom's lofty height, Juft touching at this inn, for fhort repast, Then speed their journey forward to its laft. This the fole path?
The plain man's path, without proud Science wife. Who they, which traverse this deluder's bound?
A bufy fcene, all thought or action round.
Her lovers, whom her specious beauty warms,
Who grasp, in vision, Truth's immortal charms, 240
Vain of the glory of a falfe embrace:
Fierce fyllogyftic tribes, a wrangling race,
Bards rapt beyond the moon on Fancy's wings,
And mighty mafters of the vocal strings.:
Those who on labour'd speeches waste their oil, 245
Those who in crabbed calculations toil,
f The fecond court, or the ftudious life.
Who measure earth, who climb the starry road, And human fates by heav'nly figns forebode, Pleasure's philofophers, Lyceum's pride, Disdainful foaring up to heights untry'd. All who in learned trifles fpin their wit, Or comment on the works by triflers writ. Who are yon active females, like in face To the lewd barlots, in the nether space, Vile agents of voluptuous Sin?
Ev'n here, eternal shame!
They boast some rarer lefs ignoble spoils, Art, wit, and reason, tangled in their toils, And Fancy, with th' Opinions in her rear,
Enjoys these ftudious walks, no ftranger here: Where wild hypothefis, and learn'd romance Too oft lead up the philosophic dance. Still these ingenious heads, alas! retain Delufion's dofe, ftill the vile dregs remain Of ignorance with madding folly join'd,
And a foul heart pollutes th' embellish'd mind.
Nor will prefumption from their fouls recede,
Nor will they from one vicious plague be freed,
'Till, weary of these vanities, they've found Th' exalted way to Truth's enlighten'd ground, Quaff'd her cathartic, and all cleans'd within, By that strong energy, from pride and fin,
Are heal'd and fav'd. But loit'ring here they spend Life's precious hours in thinking to no end:
From science up to science let them rise,
And arrogate the swelling style of wise, Their wisdom's folly, impotent and blind, Which cures not one diftemper of the mind. Enough. Difcover now the faithful road Which mounts us to the joys of Truth's abode. Survey this. folitary waste, which rears Nor bush nor herb, nor cottage there appears. At distance fee von strait and lonely gate (No crowds at the forbidding entrance wait) Its avenue a rugged rocky foil,
Travell❜d with painful step and tedious toil. Beyond the wicket, tow'ring in the skies See Difficulty's cragged mountain rise, Narrow and fharp th' afcent; each edge a brink, Whence to vaft depth dire precipices fink.
Is that the way to Wisdom? Dreadful way! The landfkip frowns with danger and difmay.`
Yet higher ftill, around the mountain's brow
Winds yon huge rock, whose steep finooth fides allow
No track. Its top two fifter figures grace,
Health's rofy habit glowing in their face.
With arms protended o'er the verge they lean, The promptitude of friendship in their mien. The pow'rs of Continence and Patience, there Station'd by Wisdom, her commiffion bear To rouze the spirit of her fainting fon Thus far advanc'd, and urge and urge Courage they call, the coward's sloth disdain, Yet, yet awhile, the noble toil sustain :
A lovely path foon opens to your fight.
But ab!, how climb'd that rock's bare flipp'ry height? Thefe generous guides, who Virtue's courfe befriend, In fuccour of her pilgrim, swift descend,
Draw up their trembling charge; then, fmiling, greet With kind command to rest his weary feet. With their own force his panting breast they arm, And with their own intrepid spirit warm: Next, plight their guidance in his future way To Wisdom, and in rapt'rous view display The blissful road (there it invites your eyes) How smooth and eafy to the foot it lies, I 3
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