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Modernized by ISAAC PACATUS SHARD, Esq. That all Men, and especially the Covetous, are difcontented with their Lot.

то THE

Right Hon. JOHN Earl of CORKE and ORRERY.

W

HAT is theReafon, none enjoy the State

In which they here are plac'd by
Choice or Fate?

All their Condition, ORRERY, bemoan,
And think another's happier than their own.
The Soldier, worn with Toil, with Years opprefs'd,
Laments his Lot, and calls the Merchant blefs'd.

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When Billows roar, and ftormy Winds arife,
The Soldier's Life is beft,' the Merchant cries;
He foon a speedy Death in Battle finds,

'Or with fresh Laurels his glad Temples binds."
Wak'd by his Client ere the Dawn appears,
A Peafant's Life the Barrifter prefers.
When by a Summons hurry'd up to Town,
Whate'er he fees delights the gaping Clown..
Fully to prove how all Mankind admire

Lots differing from their own, would Whitefield tire.
But to the Point, my Lord; you now fhall hear,
From thefe Examples what I would infer.
Should fome celeftial Delegate be sent,

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And fay, I come to give you all Content;
Soldier, enjoy your Wifh, no more repine;
Lawyer, the Peafant's envied Life be thine:
'Let each affume the Lot, that beft will please,
And quit his own: Retire---depart in Peace---
Why stand you thus? whence springs this strange
• None will be bleft, yet every Mortal may.' [ Delay?
Sure, Heaven, incens'd, no more will condefcend
To their next Suit a gracious Ear to lend.

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But to be grave, all jefting I decline,

I

Though Pleafantry with Truth one fure may join; 2 With Sweetmeats thus kind Parents ftrive to win Children, when first their Horn-book they begin. The fubtle 3 Lawyer, wrangling at the Bar, Soldiers inur'd to the Fatigues of War,

The

TheHind,that ploughs theLand with fo much Pain,
Sailors, who, boldly venture o'er the Main;
All toil, with this Pretence, to heap up Gold,
That from their Labours they may reft, when old;
All cite th' Example of the 4 bufy Ant,
Who lays up Stores against a Day of Want
But fhe, more wife, when Clouds are big with R ir,
Ne'er ftirs from home, but eats her hoarded Graia;
Whilft you defy the Cold, the fcorching Sun,
Thro' Fire and Sword, thro' various Dangers run,
And fordid Lucre greedily purfue,

Left any boaft, they richer are than you.
What Joy can thofe vaft Heaps of Gold afford,
Which under Ground, by ftealth, you trembling
hoari?

Iftouch'd, they foon will melt away, you fear;
But in an untouch'd Mafs what Charms appear?
What if you thresh ten thousand Sacks of Grain,
Your Stomach will no more than mine contain.
Beneath his Barket though the Baker fweat,
He no more Bread, than you or I, can eat.
To thofe,whofe Wants exceed notNature's Bounds,
Ten are as good as twenty thousand Pounds.
You think it fweeter, though you take no more,
To take it from a great, than little Store.
Amply my little Barn my Wants fupplies;
What can you more from your large Granaries?

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You might as justly say, when you were dry, And a tranfparent Fountain rofe hard by, 'From fuch a Spring I fcorn my Thirt to flake, 'No, let me quench it from yon 5 spacious Lake.' Who eager more than what is needful craves, If his Feet flip, is bury'd in the Waves; Whilft the contented never fear the Flood, But drink their Water pure, and free from Mud. Led by falfe Notions, many we behold, Who think their Merit's to be weigh'd by Gold. What Anfwer fhall we make to fuch as these? Why let them be unhappy, if they please. Thus the rich Mifer, though the People hifs, Applauds himself, and hugs his fancy'd Bliss; Cries out, Laugh on; contented, I'm your Jeft, So I my Bags contemplate in my Cheft.'

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When 6 Tantalus, immers'd in Water, food,
And with parch'd Lips catch'd at the flyingFlood---
You fmile, and ftop me as I just began;
Change but theName, you'll find yourself the Man:
Brooding you fit, and view with fond Delight
Your Bags, as Pictures only made for Sight;
Eut with religious Scruple you decline

To touch them, as you would a facred Shrine.
No Worth intrinfic I in Gold perceive;
Value to Money Ufe alone can give:

With it plain Cloaths, and fimple Food we buy,
And Nature's reasonable Wants supply.

For

For Dread of Fire, to lie whole Nights awake,
And, trembling, every Noife for Thieves to take;
With prying Jealousy to watch ali Day,
Left Servants plunder you, and run away;
If Riches Cares increase, in Mercy grant
That I fuch Bleffings, Heaven, may ever want!

But, when attack'd by some severe Disease,
• Gold will pay Watson's Bill and Wilmot's Fees ;
All proper Means procure to fave a Life,
'Dear to my Friends, myChildren,and my Wife'-
NorWife,norChildren,at yourDeath would grieve;
Not one, that knows you, wishes you to live :
When, to all other Things, you Gold prefer,
How can you think your Death deserves a Tear?
Without fome kind Returns, we hope in vain
The Love of Friends and Kindred to retain ;
This will our Skill and Pains as much furpass,
As, to the Bit, to break the ftubborn Afs.
Since you have treasur'd up so vast a Store,
Banish the Dread of e'er becoming poor.
Of Wealth fuperfluous quit the vain Purfuit,
Of your past Labours now enjoy the Fruit.

Short is the Story, which I here relate,

And learn to fhun from thence * Corbaccio's Fate.
Immenfely rich, he went fo meanly clad,
He wore no better Cloaths than † Justice L---d į

A Character in Ben Johnson's Comedy of Volpone.
A rich Mifer, known after twenty Years Absence
by his old Cloak.

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