Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, Lie in three words, health, peace, and competence; But health consists with temperance alone; And peace, O virtue! peace is all thy own. On earth nought precious is obtain'd, By travel and to travel born, Our sabbaths are but few. Who noble ends by noble means obtains, Our hearts are fasten'd to this world, But ev'ry sorrow cuts a string, And urges us to rise. Oft pining cares in rich brocades are dress'd, Teach me to feel another's wo, To hide the fault I see; That mercy I to others show, That mercy show to me. This day be bread, and peace, my lot: All else beneath the sun 'Thou know'st if best bestow'd or not; And let thy will be done. Volume II. D Vice is a monster of so frightful mien If nothing more than purpose in thy power, In faith and hope the world will disagree; To be resign'd when ills betide, And pleas'd with favours giv'n; Whose fragrance smells to Heav'n. All fame is foreign, but of true desert; Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart: One self-approving hour whole years outweighs Of stupid starers, and of loud huzzas; And more true joy Marcellus exil'd feels, Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife, They kept the noiseless tenor of their way. What nothing earthly gives, or can destroy, The soul's calm sunshine, and the heartfelt joy, Pity the sorrows of a poor old man, Whose trembling limbs have borne him to your door, Who lives to nature rarely can be poor; When young, life's journey I began, The glitt'ring prospect charm'd my eyes; I saw, along th' extended plain, Joy after joy successive rise. But soon I found 'twas all a dream; And learn'd the fond pursuit to shun, Where few can reach the purpos'd aim, And thousands daily are undone. "Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours; And ask them, what report they bore to Heav'n. All nature is but art unknown to thee; All chance, direction which thou can'st not see; All discord, harmony not understood; All partial evil, universal good. Heav'n's choice is safer than our own: Of ages past inquire, What the most form 'able fate; "To have our own desire." If ceaseless, thus, the fowls of heav'n he feeds, The spacious firmament on high, And spangl'd heav'ns, a shining frame, Th' unwearied sun, from day to day, And publishes to ev'ry land, Soon as the ev'ning shades prevail, Whilst all the stars that round her burn, Confirm the tidings as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole. What though, in solemn silence, all For ever singing as they shine, PART II. EXERCISES IN ORTHOGRAPHY. CHAPTER I. Containing instances of false ORTHOGRAPHY, arranged under the respective Rules. RULE I. Monosyllables ending with f, 1, or s, preceded by a single vowel, double the final consonant: as, staff, mill, pass, &c. The on'y excep tions are, of, if, as, is, has, was, yes, his, this, us, and thus. See Volume I. page 52. IT is no great merit to spel properly; but a great defect to do it incorrectly. Jacob worshiped his Creator, leaning on the top of his staf. We may place too little, as well as too much stres upon dreams. Our manners should be neither gros, nor excessively refined. |