The vaffal world. This avarice is nam'd, That luxury; 'tis true their partial friends Affign them fofter names; ufurpers both! That share by dint of arms the legal throne Of just œconomy; yet both betray'd By fraudful minifters. The niggard chief Lift'ning to want, all faithlefs, and prepar'd To join each moment in his rival's train, His conduct models by the needlefs fears The slave inspires; while luxury, a chief Of amplest faith, to plenty's rule refigns His whole campaign. 'Tis plenty's flatt'ring founds Engrofs his ear; 'tis plenty's fmiling form Moves ftill before his eye. Difcretion strives, But strives in vain, to banish from the throne The perjur'd minion. He, fecure of trust, With latent malice to the hoftile camp
Day, night, and hour, his monarch's wealth conveys, Ye tow'ring minds! ye fublimated fouls! Who careless of your fortunes, feal and sign, Set, let, contract, acquit, with easier mien Than fops take fnuff! whofe œconomic care Your green-filk purfe engroffes! eafy, pleas'd, To fee gold fparkle thro' the subtle folds; Lovely, as when th' Hefperian fruitage smil'd Amid the verd❜rous grove! who fondly hope Spontaneous harvests! harvests all the year! Who fcatter wealth, as tho' the radiant crop Glitter'd on ev'ry bough; and ev'ry bough
Like that the Trojan gather'd, once avuls'd Were by a splendid fucceffor supply'd Inftant, fpontaneous ! liften to my lays. For 'tis not fools, whate'er proverbial phrase Have long decreed, that quit with greatest ease The treafur'd gold. Of words indeed profuse, Of gold tenacious, their torpefcent foul Clenches their coin, and what electral fire Shall folve the frofty gripe, and bid it flow? "Tis genius, fancy, that to wild expence Of health! of treasure! ftimulates the foul: Thefe, with officious care, and fatal art, Improve the vinous flavour; these the smile Of CLOE foften; these the glare of dress Illume; the glitt'ring chariot gild anew, And add strange wisdom to the furs of pow'r. Alas! that he, amid the race of men, That he, who thinks of pureft gold with fcorn, Shou'd with unfated appetite demand,
And vainly court the pleasure it procures ! When fancy's vivid spark impels the foul To fcorn quotidian scenes, to fpurn the bliss Of vulgar minds, what noftrum fhall compose Its fatal tenfion? in what lonely vale Of balmy medicine's various field, afpires The bleft refrigerent? Vain, ah vain the hope Of future peace, this orgafm uncontroul'd! Impatient, hence, of all, the frugal mind Requires; to eat, to drink, to fleep, to fill
A cheft with gold, the fprightly breast demands Inceffant rapture; life, a tedious load Deny'd its continuity of joy.
But whence obtain? philofophy requires No lavish coft; to crown its utmost pray'r Suffice the root-built cell, the fimple fleece, The juicy viand, and the crystal stream. Ev'n mild ftupidity rewards her train With cheap contentment. Tafte alone requires Entire profufion! Days and nights and hours Thy voice, hydropic fancy! calls aloud For coftly draughts, inundant bowls of joy, Rivers of rich regalement ! feas of bliss! Seas without shore! infinity of fweets!
And yet, unless fage reason join her hand In pleasure's purchase, pleasure is unfure: And yet, unless œconomy's confent Legitimate expence, fome graceless mark, Some symptom ill-conceal'd, fhall, foon or late, Burst like a pimple from the vicious tide Of acid blood, proclaiming want's disease, Amidft the bloom of fhew. The fcanty ftream Slow-loitering in its channel, feems to vie With VAGA's depth; but fhould the fedgy pow'r Vain-glorious empty his penurious urn
O'er the rough rock, how muft his fellow-ftreams Deride the tinklings of the boastive rill!
I not aspire to mark the dubious path That leads to wealth, to poets mark'd in vain!
But ere felf-flattery foothe the vivid breast With dreams of fortune near ally'd to fame, Reflect how few, who charm'd the lift'ning ear Of fatrap or of king, her smiles enjoy'd ! Confider well, what meagre alms repay'd
The great Mæonian, fire of tuneful fong, And prototype of all that foar'd fublime, And left dull cares below; what griefs impell'd The modeft bard of learn'd ELIZA's reign To fwell with tears his MULLA's parent stream, And mourn aloud the pang "to ride, to run, To spend, to give, to want, to be undone." Why fhou'd I tell of COWLEY'S pensive muse Belov'd in vain? too copious is my theme! Which of your boasted race might hope reward Like loyal BUTLER, when the lib'ral CHARLES, The judge of wit, perus'd the sprightly page Triumphant o'er his foes? Believe not hope, The poet's parafite; but learn alone
To spare the scanty boon the fates decree. Poet and rich! 'tis folecism extreme! 'Tis heighten'd contradiction! in his frame, In ev'ry nerve and fibre of his foul,
The latent feeds and principles of want
Has nature wove; and fate confirm'd the clue. Nor yet defpair to fhun the ruder gripe
penury; with nice precision learn
A dollar's value. Foremost in the page
That marks th' expence of each revolving year,
Place inattention. When the luft of praise, Or honour's falfe idea, tempts thy foul To flight frugality, affure thine heart That danger's near. This perishable coin Is no vain ore. It is thy liberty,
It fetters mifers, but it must alone
Enfranchise thee. The world, the cit-like world Bids thee beware; thy little craft essay; Nor, pidling with a tea-spoon's flender form, See with foup-ladles devils gourmandize.
Economy! thou good old-aunt! whose mien Furrow'd with age and care the wife adore, The wits contemn! reserving still thy stores To chear thy friends at last! why with the cit, Or booklefs churl, with each ignoble name, Each earthly nature, deign'ft thou to refide? And shunning all, who by thy favours crown'd Might glad the world, to feek fome vulgar mind Infpiring pride, and selfish shapes of ill?
Why with the old, infirm, and impotent, And childless, love to dwell, yet leave the breast Of youth, unwarn'd, unguided, uninform'd? Of youth, to whom thy monitory voice Were doubly kind? for fure to youthful eyes, (How short foe'er it prove) the road of life Appears protracted; fair on either fide
The loves, the graces play, on fortune's child Profufely smiling; well might youth essay The frugal plan, the lucrative employ,
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