Ev'n those who dwell beneath its very zone, Or never feel the rage, or never own; What happier natures shrink at with affright, Virtuous and vicious ev'ry man must be, For, vice or virtue, self directs it still; Each individual seeks a sev'ral goal; But heav'n's great view is one, and that the whole, That disappoints th' effects of ev'ry vice; Fear to the statesman, rashness to the chief, To kings presumption, and to crowds belief: Which seeks no int'rest, no reward but praise; A master, or a servant, or a friend, Bids each on other for assistance call, Till one man's weakness grows the strength of all. Wants, frailties, passions, closer still ally The common int'rest, or endear the tie. To these we owe true friendship, love sincere, Each home-felt joy that life inherits here; Yet from the same we learn, in its decline, Those joys, those loves, those int'rests to resign; Taught half by reason, half by mere decay, Whate'er the passion, knowledge, fame, or pelf. Not one will change his neighbour with himself. The learn'd is happy nature to explore, The fool is happy that he knows no more; The poor contents him with the care of heav'n. The starving chemist in his golden views See some strange comfort ev'ry state attend, And pride bestow'd on all, a common friend : See some fit passion ev'ry age supply, Hope travels thro', nor quits us when we die. Behold the child, by nature's kindly law, Pleas'd with a rattle, tickled with a straw: Some livelier plaything gives his youth delight, Scarfs, garters, gold, amuse his riper stage, These build as fast as knowledge can destroy; In folly's cup still laughs the bubble, joy; One prospect lost, another still we gain; And not a vanity is given in vain: |