advance 5 Though what he learns he speaks, and may Some gen'ral maxims, or be right by chance. That from his cage cries Cuckold, Whore, and Though many a passer ger he rightly call, You hold him no philosopher at all. And yet the fate of ali extremes is such, Men may be read, as well as books, too much. 10 To observations, which ourselves we make, We grow more partial for th' observer's sake; To written wisdom, as another's, less: Maxims are drawn from notions, these from guess. There's some peculiar in each leaf and grain, 15 Some unmark'd fibre, or some varying vein; Shall only man be taken in the gross ? Grant but as many sorts of mind as moss. 20 That each from other differs, first confess; Next he that varies from himself no less; Add Nature's, Custom's, Reason's, Passion's, strife, And all Opinion's colors cast on life. Our depths who fathoms, or our shallows finds, Quick whirls, and shifting eddies, of our minds? On human actions reason though you can, It may be reason, but it is not man: That instant 'tis his principle no more. 25 Like following life through crores you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect. 30 Yet more; the diff'rence is as great between The optics seeing, as the objects seen. All manners take a tincture from our own, When half our knowledge we must snatch, not take. Oft in the passion's wild rotation tost, 40 Our spring of action to ourselves is lost: 45 And what comes then is master of the field. Is thus, perhaps, the cause of most we do. 50 True, some are open, and to all men known; Others so very close they're hid from none; (So darkness strikes the sense no less than light ;) Thus gracious Chandos is belov'd at sight; And ev'ry child hates Shylock, though his soul 55 Still sits at squat, and peeps not from its hole. At half mankind when gen'rous Manly raves, All know 'tis virtue, for he thinks them knaves; When universal homage Umbra pays, 60 All see 'tis vice, and itch of vulgar praise; Though strong the bent, yet quick the turns of mind: Or puzzling contraries confound the whole; 65 The dull, flat falsehood, serves for policy; See the same man in vigor, in the gout; Catius is ever moral, ever grave, Thinks who endures a knave, is next a knave, 70 75 80 Who would not praise Patricio's high desert, His hand unstain'd, his uncorrupted heart, His comprehensive head! all int'rests weigh'd, All Europe sav'd, yet Britain not betray'd. He thanks you not, his pride is in Picquette, 85 New-Market fame, and judgment at a bett, What made (say Montaigne, or more sage Charron !) 90 Otho a warrior, Cromwell a buffoon ? Know, God and Nature only are the same: 95 PART II. In vain the sage, with retrospective eye, 99 Would from th' apparent What conclude the Why, Not therefore humble he who seeks retreat, Pride guides his steps, and bids him shun the great. Who combats bravely is not therefore brave; 115 you can. 125 But grant that actions best discover man; 119 Take the most strong, and sort them if The few that glare, each character must mark: You balance not the many in the dark. What will you do with such as disagree? Suppress them? or miscal them policy? Must then at once (the character to save) The plain rough hero turn a crafty knave? Alas! in truth, the man but chang'd his mind, Perhaps was sick, in love, or had not din'd. Ask why from Britain Cæsar would retreat? Cæsar himself might whisper he was beat. Why risk the world's great empire for a punk ? Cæsar perhaps might answer he was drunk. But, sage Historians, 'tis your task to prove One action conduct; one, heroic love. 130 'Tis from high life high characters are drawn: 135 A saint in crape is twice a saint in lawn; A judge is just, a chanc'llor juster still; A gownman, learn'd; a bishop, what you will; Wise, if a minister; but if a king, More wise, more learn'd, more just, more ev'ry thing. 140 |