Or Popularity? or Stars and Strings?

The Mob's applauses, or the gifts of Kings?
Say with what eyes we ought at Courts to gaze,
And pay the Great our homage of Amaze?

If weak the pleasure that from thefe can spring,
The fear to want them is as weak a thing:
Whether we dread, or whether we desire,
In either cafe, believe me, we admire;
Whether we joy or grieve, the fame the curfe,
Surpriz'd at better, or furpriz'd at worse,
Thus good or bad, to one extreme betray
Th'unbalanc'd mind, and fnatch the Man away;
For Virtue's felf may too much zeal be had;
The worst of Madmen is a Saint run mad.
Go then, and if you can, admire the state
Of beaming diamonds, and reflected plate;
Procure a TASTE to double the furprize,
And gaze on Parian charms with learned eyes:
Be ftruck with bright Brocade, or Tyrian Dye,
Our Birth-day Nobles' splendid Livery.
If not fo pleas'd, at Council-board rejoice,
To fee their Judgments hang upon thy Voice;
From morn to night, at Senate, Rolls, and Hall,
Plead much, read more, dine late, or not at all
But wherefore all this labour, all this ftrife?
For Fame, for Riches, for a noble Wife?
Shall One whom Nature, Learning, Birth confpir'd
To form, not to admire but be admir'd,
Sigh, while his Chloe blind to Wit and Worth
Weds the rich dulnefs of fome Son of earth?

Yet time ennobles, or degrades each Line;

It brighten❜d CRAGGS's, and may darken thine :
And what is fame? the meaneft have their day,
The greatest can but blaze, and pass away.

Grac'd as thou art, with all the Power of Words,
So known, fo honour'd at the house of Lords:
Confpicuous Scene! another yet is nigh,
(More filent far) where Kings and poets lie;
Where MURRAY (long enough his country's pride)
Shall be no more than TULLY, or than HYDE!,
Rack'd with Sciatics, martyr'd with the stone,
Will any mortal let himself alone?

See Ward by batter'd Beaus invited over,
And desperate Misery lays hold on Dover.
The cafe is easier in the Mind's disease;

There all men may he cur'd, whene'er they please.
Would you be blest! despise low Joys, low Gains;
Difdain whatever CORNBURY difdains;

Be virtuous, and be happy for your pains.

But art thou one, whom new opinions fway, One who believes as Tindal leads the way, Who Virtue and a Church alike difowns,

Thinks that but words, and this but brick and stones? Fly then, on all the wings of wild defire,

Admire whate'er the maddeft can admire :

Is wealth thy paffion? Hence! from Pole to Pole,
Where winds can carry, or where waves can roll,
For Indian fpices, for Peruvian Gold,
Prevent the greedy, or out-bid the bold':
Advance thy golden Mountain to the skies:
On the broad base of fifty thousand rise,

O 3

Add one round hundred, and (if that's not fair)
Add fifty more, and bring it to a square.
For, mark th' advantage; just so many score
Will gain a Wife with half as many more,
Procure her beauty, make that beauty chaste,
And then fuch friends-as cannot fail to laft.
A Man of wealth is dubb'd a man of worth,
Venus fhall give him Form, and Anftis Birth.
(Believe me, many a German Prince is worse,
Who proud of Pedigree, is poor of purfe)
His wealth brave Timon gloriously confounds?
Afk'd for a groat, he gives a hundred pounds;
Or if three Ladies like a luckless Play,
Take the whole Houfe upon the Poet's day.
Now, in fuch exigencies not to need,

Upon my word, you must be rich indeed;
A noble fuperfluity it craves,

Not for yourself, but for your Fools and Knaves;
Something, which for your honour they may cheat,
And which it much becomes you to forget.
If Wealth alone then make and keep us bleft,
Still, ftill be getting, never, never rest.

But if to Power and Place your paffion lie,
If in the Pomp of Life confift the joy;
Then hire a Slave, or (if you will) a Lord
To do the honours, and to give the Word;
Tell at your Levee, as the Crouds approach,
To whom to nod, whom take into your Coach,
Whom honour with your hand: to make remarks,
Who rules in Cornwall, or who rules iu Berks:

"This may be troublesome, is near the Chair:

"That makes three Members, this can chufe a May'r Inftructed thus, you bow, embrace, protest,

Adopt him Son, or Cousin at the least,
Then turn about, and laugh at your own Jest.
Or if your life be one continu'd Treat,
If to live well means nothing but to eat;
Up, up! cries Gluttony'tis break of day,
Go drive the Deer, and drag the finny prey;
With hounds and horns go hunt an Appetite-
So Ruffel did, but could not eat at night,
Call'd happy Dog! the Beggar at his door,
And envy'd Thirst and Hunger to the poor.
Or fhall we every decency confound,

Thro' Taverns, Stews, and Bagnio's take our round,
Go dine with Charters, in each Vice out-do
K-I's lewd Cargo, or Ty-y's crew,

From Latian Syrens, French Circaean Feafts,
Return'd well travell'd, and transform'd to Beafts,
Or for a titled Punk, or foreign Flame,
Renounce our Country and degrade our Name?
If, after all, we must with Wilmot own,
The Cordial Drop of Life is Love alone,
And SWIFT cry wifely, "Vive la Bagatelle !"
The man that loves and laughs, must fure do well
Adieu-if this advice appear the worst,

E'en take the counsel which I give you first:
Or better Precepts if you can impart,
Why do, I'll follow them with all my heart.