"Were I that man, (the Peasant cry'd) What bleffing could I ask befide ?”
Hold, fays the God; firft learn to know True happiness from outward fhow.
This optic glass of intuition
Here, take it, view his true condition."
He look'd, and faw the mifer's breast
A troubled ocean, ne'er at reft;
Want ever ftares him in the face,
And fear anticipates disgrace:
With conscious guilt he saw him start;
Extortion gnaws his throbbing heart;
And never, or in thought or dream,
His breast admits one happy gleam.
May Jove, he cries, reject my prayer,
And guard my life from guilt and care!
My foul abhors that wretch's fate.
O keep me in my humble ftate!
But fee, amidst a gawdy crowd,
Yon' minifter fo gay and proud;
On him what happiness attends,
Who thus rewards his grateful friends!"
Firft take the glafs, the God replies;
Man views the world with partial eyes.”
"Good Gods! exclaims the ftartled wight, 105
Defend me from this hideous fight!
Corruption with corrofive fmart
Lies cankering on his guilty heart:
I fee him with polluted hand
Spread the contagion o'er the land.
Now Avarice with infatiate jaws,
Now Rapine with her harpy claws,
His bofom tears. His confcious breast
Groans with a load of crimes opprest.
See him, mad and drunk with power,
Stand tottering on Ambition's tower.
Sometimes, in fpeeches vain and proud,
His boasts infult the nether crowd;
Now, feiz'd with giddiness and fear,
He trembles left his fall is near."
"Was ever wretch like this! he cries; Such mifery in fuch disguise!
The change, O Jove! I difavow;
Still be my lot the fpade and plough."
He next, confirm'd by fpeculation,
Rejects the lawyer's occupation;
For he the statesman feem'd in part,
And bore fimilitude of heart.
Nor did the foldier's trade inflame
His hopes with thirst of spoil and fame.
The miseries of war he mourn'd;
Whole nations into deferts turn'd.
By these have laws and rights been brav'd;
By these was free-born man enflav'd:
When battles and invafion cease,
Why fwarm they in the lands of peace?
Such change (fays he) may I decline;
The scythe and civil arms be mine!"
Thus, weighing life in each condition,
The Clown withdrew his rafh petition.
When thus the God: "How mortals err ! If you true happiness prefer,
"Tis to no rank of life confin'd,
But dwells in every honest mind.
Be juftice then your fole purfuit :
Plant virtue, and content 's the fruit."
So Jove, to gratify the Clown, Where first he found him, fet him down.
THE MAN, THE CAT, THE DOG, AND THE FLY,
To my native Country.
HAIL, happy land! whofe fertile grounds
The liquid fence of Neptune bounds;
By bounteous Nature fet apart,
The feat of Industry and Art!
O Britain! chofen port of trade,
May luxury ne'er thy fons invade!
May never minister (intent
His private treasures to augment)
Corrupt thy ftate! If jealous foes
Thy rights of commerce dare oppofe,
Shall not thy fleets their rapine awe?
Who is 't prescribes the ocean law ?
Whenever neighbouring ftates contend,
'Tis thine to be the general friend.
What is 't who rules in other lands?
On trade alone thy glory ftands;
That benefit is unconfin'd,
Diffufing good among mankind:
That first gave luftre to thy reigns,
And scatter'd plenty o'er thy plains:
'Tis that alone thy wealth fupplies,
And draws all Europe's envious eyes.
Be commerce, then, thy fole design;
Keep that, and all the world is thine.
When naval traffic plows the main,
Who fhares not in the merchant's gain?
"Tis that fupports the regal state,
And makes the farmer's heart elate:
The numerous flocks that cloathe the land
Can fcarce fupply the loom's demand;
Prolific culture glads the fields,
And the bare heath a harveft yields.
Nature expects mankind should share
The duties of the public care.
Who's born for floth? * To fome we find
Each, aiming at one common end,
Proves to the whole a needful friend.
Thus, born each other's useful aid,
By turns are obligations paid.
The monarch, when his table 's spread,
Is to the clown oblig'd for bread;
And, when in all his glory dreft,
Owes to the loom his royal vest.
Do not the mafon's toil and care
Protect him from th' inclement air?
Does not the cutler's art supply
The ornament that guards his thigh?
All thefe, in duty to the throne,
Their common obligations own.
'Tis he (his own and people's cause)
Protects their properties and laws.
Thus they their honeft toil employ,
And with content the fruits enjoy.
In every rank, or great or fmall,
"Tis industry fupports us all.
The animals, by want opprefs'd,
To man their fervices addrefs'd:
While each purfu'd their selfish good,
They hunger'd for precarious food:
Their hours with anxious cares were vext;
One day they fed, and starv'd the next:
They faw that plenty, fure and rife,
Was found alone in focial life ;
That mutual industry profefs'd,
The various wants of man redress'd.
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