A place? 'tis yours, exclaims Lord D- Command my interest, swears M. P.- The friend, the foe; the love the hate: * These are the species of deceivers, of whom it may be said with truth, "Pessimum genus inimicorum laudantes ;" for they not only promise without the least intention of performing, but by fallaciously flattering the hopes of the petitioner, make him neglect pursuits which would enable him to live with credit, and not reduce him to the state of a slave and pander, while loss of precious time too frequently brings on beggary, and the loathsome confines of a gaol. † How often does the sanctified flatterer practise on the minds of bigots, and at the very moment when his panegyrics are passed on holy writ, his thoughts are perhaps down in the kitchen, where from the savory effluvia which catches his nose, he learns that a goose will that day be his fare. These are a class of glossers who add profaneness to hypocrisy, using the sacred name of Omnipotence to pamper their appetites and fill their purses. Adulandi gens prudentissima laudat, Bifronted fool, if such thy store, I grant thee wondrous cunning; L'ENVOY OF THE POET. As basest coin will frequently deceive, Who fool'd are by their kindred friend, an ass. THE POET'S CHORUS TO FOOLS. Come, trim the boat, row on each Rara Avis, SECTION XIX. OF THE VANITY OF FOOLS. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, THAT idiot never will his sense regain, Vaunting aloud preeminence* in folly. 66 * Diffidence is the characteristic feature of wisdom, which never conceives that it hath attained to the summit of excellence, while there yet remains any thing to be acquired. Whereas, a little wisdom is a dangerous thing," and when possessed by shallow wits, is very frequently conducive to evil effects, involving in its disgrace, all such as placed reliance on its efficacy. Speaking of those selfsufficient fools, we may apply the words of Solomon. "There is a generation; O how lofty are their eyes, and their eyelids are lifted up!" In shallow wits, this feature's always found, For vanity's to idiots close allied; And sterling worth for gaudy senseless pride. With Fools no fault is undeserving praise, Who in opposing sense, is loudest railing. Thus when the giddy fool doth most conceive, He struts knight fam'd of Reason's chivalry; Men at his weakness laugh but in their sleeve, Despise the fool and all his vanity.* *Poets have ever been deemed the slaves of vanity; nor should we omit musicians and players, who may well boast in this respect, the palm of folly. Among the latter class, none was perhaps ever more famed, than the great Garrick, who would even debase himself so far as to feel gratified at the panegyrics of his own barber. That poets, however, should have a share of vanity is not so surprising, when we consider that they are never governed by reason, which is the first step towards wisdom. In fine, we will conclude this head, by stating of a vain man, that "He is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men who can render a reason." L'ENVOY OF THE POET. The wisest of us hath no cause to boast, Conceit with fools alone is deem'd a feast; For in those breasts where reason rules the roast The most enlighten'd seem to know the least. THE POET'S CHORUS TO FOOLS. Come, trim the boat, row on each Rara Avis, |