You laugh, half-beau, half-sloven, if I stand, 166 I plant, root up; I build, and then confound; Turn round to square, and square again to round; You never change one muscle of your face, 171 You think this madness but a common case; 175 Nor once to chanc'ry, nor to Hale apply, Rich ev'n when plunder'd, honor'd while oppress'd; Tow'r : In short, that reas'ning, high, immortal thing, 185 188 HORACE, BOOK I. EPISTLE VI. IMITATED. TO MR. MURRAY. THIS piece is the most finished of all his imitations, and executed in the high manner the Italian painters call Con Amore. By which they mean, the exertion of that principle, which puts the faculties on the stretch, and produces the supreme degree of excellence. For the poet had all the warmth of affection for the great lawyer to whom it is addressed; and, indeed, no man ever more deserved to have a poet for his friend. In the obtaining of which, as neither vanity, party, nor fear, had any share, so he supported his title to it by all the offices of true friendship. •NOT OT to admire, is all the art I know To make men happy, and to keep them so.' (Plain truth, dear Murray! needs no flow'rs of speech, So take it in the very words of Creech.) This vault of air, this congregated ball, Self-centred sun, and stars, that run and fall, There are, my Friend! whose philosophic eyes Look through, and trust the Ruler with his skies; To him commit the hour, the day, the year, And view this dreadful All without a fear. Admire we then what earth's low entrails hold, Arabian shores, or Indian seas infold; All the mad trade of fools and slaves for gold? 5 10 Or popularity? or stars, and strings? 15 20 If weak the pleasure that from these can spring, The fear to want them is as weak a thing: Whether we dread, or whether we desire, In either case believe me we admire : Whether we joy, or grieve, the same the curse, Surpris'd at better, or surpris'd at worse. 30 Thus good, or bad, to one extreme betray Th' unbalanc'd mind, and snatch the man away; 25 For virtue's self may too much zeal be had; The worst of madmen is, a saint run mad. Go then, and if you can, admire the state Of beaming diamonds and reflected plate; Procure a taste to double the surprise, And gaze on Parian charms with learned eyes; Be struck with bright brocade, or Tyrian dye, Our birth-day nobles' splendid livery. If not so pleas'd, at council-board rejoice To see their judgments hang upon thy voice; From morn to night, at Senate, Rolls, and Hall, Plead much, read more, dine late, or not at all. But wherefore all this labor, all this strife? For fame, for riches, for a noble wife? Shall one whom Nature, learning, birth, conspir'd To form, not to admire, but be admir'd, Sigh, while his Chloe, blind to wit and worth, Weds the rich dulness of some son of carth? 35 41 Yet time ennobles, or degrades each line; lie; 50 It brighten'd Craggs's, and may darken thine. 45 55 There all men may be cur'd whene'er they please. Would ye be bless'd? despise low joys, low gains; Disdain whatever Cornbury disdains; 60 Be virtuous; and be happy for your pains. Fly then on all the wings of wild desire, Admire whate'er the maddest can admire. 65 Is wealth thy passion? hence! from pole to pole, Where winds can carry, or where waves can For Indian spices, for Peruvian gold, A noble superfluity it craves, 90 Not for yourself, but for your fools and knaves; If wealth alone then make, and keep us, blest, 95 100 |