Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

THE CHARACTER OF ALMENON.

OUT OF AN OLD MANUSCRIPT.

ALMENON had a sort of merit!

Some sense, good humour, wit, and spirit;
But then, he had a strange weak side!
He hated roguery and pride;

Nor saw at Court, without a sneer,
The mummeries he met with there.

To Senates, by his country sent,
He served them well in Parliament;
Nor would, for tawdry toys, or pelf,
Betray his trust, and sell himself.
Sincere and friendly, not punctilious;
No Mamamouche, nor supercilious:
In conversation gay and free.
But liked not too much company.
No toping sot, nor noted rake;
But yet would too much pleasure take:
Though he ne'er hurt estate, or fame;
Nor brought a scandal on the name.

Good books he prized from earliest youth; And valued men for worth and truth.

Chitchat he loved; but could not bear
Dull jokes, nor spiteful tales, to hear:
And rather chose to spend the day
Alone, in his amusing way,

Than barter time, and health, and quiet,
For idle news, and noisy riot.

He could not fawn on fools and knaves;
Nor live with sycophants and slaves:
But still preferred the lone retreat
To being, that way, rich and great.

Say! What became of this odd creature, So out of fashion, out of Nature?

Luck he had little; favour, less:
Nor did much worldly means possess;
Though born to Title and estate,
So whimsically odd his fate!

Yet he, with joy, gave all he could
To do his needy neighbours good.
To studious ease was much inclined;
And blessed with a contented mind.
Obscure, a peaceful life he led ;
Nor envied those, who better sped.

THE PETITION.

THE various Suppliants which address

Their prayers to Heaven on bended knees, All hope alike for happiness;

Yet each petition disagrees!

Fancy, not Judgement, constitutes their bliss! The wise, no doubt, will say the same of this!

'Ye Gods! if you remember right,
Some eighteen years ago,

A Form was made divinely bright;
And sent for us t' admire below.

I first distinguished her from all the rest;
And hope you'll therefore think my title best!

'I ask not heaps of shining gold!

No! If the Gods vouchsafe
My longing arms may her infold;

I'm rich, I'm rich enough!

Riches, at best, can hardly give content;
But having her, What is there I can want?

'I ask not, with a pompous Train

Of honours, all th' World t' outbrave. The title I would wish to gain

Is "her most fav'rite slave!"

To bow to her, a greater bliss would be
Than Kings and Princes bowing down to me!

'To rule the World with power supreme,
Let meaner souls aspire!
To gain the sov'reignty from them,
I stoop not to desire!

Give me to reign sole Monarch in her breast;
Let petty Princes for the World contest!

'Let libertines, who take delight

In riot and excess,

Thus waste the day, thus spend the night;
While I, to joys sublimer press!

Clasped in her snowy arms, such bliss I'd prove
As never yet was found, or felt, in love!

'In short, I ask you, not to live A tedious length of days!

Old age can little pleasure give,

When health and strength decays!

Let but what time I have, be spent with hers; Each moment will be worth a thousand years!'

MAN 's a poor deluded Bubble,
Wand'ring in a mist of lies;
Seeing false, or seeing double,

Who would trust to such weak eyes. ?

Yet presuming on his senses,

On he goes, most wondrous wise!
Doubts of truth! believes pretences!
Lost in error lives, and dies!

THE ADVICE.

Dost thou, my friend! desire to rise To Honour, Wealth, and Dignities? Virtue's paths, though trod by few, With constant steps do thou pursue! For as the coward soul admires That courage which the Brave inspires; And, his own quarrels to defend, Gladly makes such a one his friend: So in a World which Rogues infest, How is an Honest Man carest! The villains from each other fly; And on his virtue safe rely!

« ÎnapoiContinuă »