And share the peaceful haunts I love,
Let none of this unhallow'd train
My sweet fequefter'd paths profane.
Oft may fome polifh'd virtuous friend
To these foft-winding vales defcend;
And, love with me inglorious things,
And fcorn with me the pomp of kings:
And check me, when my bofom burns
For ftatues, paintings, coins and urns.
For I in DAMON's pray'r cou'd join,
And DAMON's wifh might now be mine-
But all difpers'd! the wifh, the pray❜r,
Are driven to mix with common air.
OW happy once was DAMON's lot,
While yet romantic schemes were not!
Ere yet he fent his weakly eyes,
To plan frail caftles in the skies;
Forfaking pleasures cheap and common,
To court a blaze, ftill flitting from one.
Ah happy DAMON! thrice and more,
Had taste ne'er touch'd thy tranquil fhore.
Oh days! when to a girdle ty'd
The couples gingled at his fide;
And DAMON fwore he wou'd not barter
The sportsman's girdle, for a garter!
Whoever came to kill an hour,
Found easy DAMON in their pow'r ;
Pure focial nature all his guide,
"DAMON had not a grain of pride."
He wish'd not to elude the fnares
Which knav'ry plans, and craft prepares ;
But rather wealth to crown their wiles;
And win their univerfal fmiles :
For who are chearful, who at eafe,
But they who cheat us as they please?
He wink'd at many a grofs defign,
The new-fall'n calf might countermine :
Thus ev'ry fool allow'd his merit;
"Yes! DAMON had a gen'rous fpirit!"
A coxcomb's jeft, however vile,
Was fure, at least, of DAMON's fmile:
That coxcomb ne'er deny'd him sense;
For why? it prov'd his own pretence:
All own'd, were modesty away,
DAMON Cou'd fhine as much as they.
When wine and folly came in feason,
DAMON ne'er ftrove to fave his reafon;
Obnoxious to the mad uproar :
A spy upon a hoftile fhore!
'Twas this his company endear'd;
Mirth never came till he appear'd:
His lodgings-ev'ry draw'r cou'd fhew 'em;
The slave was kick'd, who did not know 'em.
Thus DAMON, ftudious of his ease,
And pleasing all, whom mirth cou'd please;
Defy'd the world, like idle COLLEY,
To fhew a fofter word than folly.
Since wisdom's gorgon-fhield was known
To ftare the gazer into stone;
He chose to truft in folly's charm,
To keep his breast alive and warm.
At length grave learning's fober train
Remark'd the trifler with difdain;
The fons of taste contemn'd his ways,
And rank'd him with the brutes that
While they to nobler heights afpir'd,
And grew belov'd, esteem'd, admir'd.
Hence with our youth, not void of spirit,
His old companions loft their merit :
And ev'ry kind well-natur'd fot
Seem'd a dull play, without a plot;
Where ev'ry yawning guest agrees,
The willing creature ftrives to please i
But temper never could amuse;
It barely led us to excufe;
'Twas true, converfing, they aver'd,
All they had feen, or felt, or heard:
Talents of weight! for wights like these,
The law might chufe for witneffes :
But fure th' attefting dry narration
Ill fuits a judge of converfation.
*What were their freedoms? mere excuses
To vent ill-manners, blows, and bruifes.
Yet freedom, gallant freedom! hailing,
At form, at form, inceffant railing,
Would they examine each offence,
Its latent caufe, its known pretence,
Punctilio ne'er was known to breed 'em,
So fure as fond prolific freedom.
Their courage? but a loaded gun;
Machine the wife wou'd wish to fhun;
Its guard unfafe, its lock an ill one,
Where accident might fire and kill one.
In fhort, difgufted out of meafure,
Thro' much contempt, and flender pleasure,
His fenfe of dignity returns;
With native pride his bosom burns;
He feeks refpect-but how to gain it?
Wit, focial mirth, cou'd ne'er obtain it.
Laughter, how kind foe'er it seem,
Difcards, and diffipates efteem:
The man who gravely bows, enjoys it;
But shaking hands, at once, deftroys it.
Precarious plant, which, fresh and gay,
Shrinks at the touch, and fades away!
Come then referve! yet from thy train
Banifh contempt, and curft difdain.
Teach me, he cry'd, thy magic art
To act the decent diftant part :
To husband well my complaifance,
Nor let ev'n wit too far advance;
But chufe calm reafon for my theme,
In these her loyal realms fupreme;
And o'er her charms, with caution fhewn,
Be ftill a graceful umbrage thrown;
And each abrupter period crown'd,
With nods, and winks, and fmiles profound.
Till refcu'd from the crowd beneath,
No more with pain to move or breathe,
I rife with head elate, to fhare
Salubrious draughts of
Respect is won by grave pretence
And filence, furer ev'n than fenfe
'Tis hence the facred grandeur springs
Of Eastern-and of other kings.
Or whence this awe to virtue due,
While virtue's diftant as PERU?
The sheathlefs fword the guard difplays,
Which round emits its dazzling rays:
The stately fort, the turrets tall,
Portcullis'd gate, and battled wall,
Less screens the body, than controuls,
And wards contempt from royal fouls.
The crowns they wear but check the eye,
Before it fondly pierce too nigh;
That dazzled crowds may be employ'd
Around the furface of the void.
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