THE CHARACTER OF ALMENON. OUT OF AN OLD MANUSCRIPT. ALMENON had a sort of merit! Some sense, good humour, wit, and spirit; Nor saw at Court, without a sneer, To Senates, by his country sent, Good books he prized from earliest youth; And valued men for worth and truth. Chitchat he loved; but could not bear Than barter time, and health, and quiet, He could not fawn on fools and knaves; Say! What became of this odd creature, So out of fashion, out of Nature? Luck he had little; favour, less: Yet he, with joy, gave all he could 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, A Form was made divinely bright; I first distinguished her from all the rest; 'I ask not heaps of shining gold! No! If the Gods vouchsafe I'm rich, I'm rich enough! Riches, at best, can hardly give content; '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 'To rule the World with power supreme, Give me to reign sole Monarch in her breast; 'Let libertines, who take delight In riot and excess, Thus waste the day, thus spend the night; Clasped in her snowy arms, such bliss I'd prove '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, Who would trust to such weak eyes. ? Yet presuming on his senses, On he goes, most wondrous wise! 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! |