Pleasures are ever in our hands or eyes; And when, in act they cease, in prospect, rise: Present to grasp, and future still to find, The whole employ of body and of mind. All spread their charms, but charm not all alike; As man, perhaps, the moment of his breath, Receives the lurking principle of death; 125 130 The young disease, that must subdue at length, 135 Grows with his growth, and strengthens with his strength: So, cast and mingled with his very frame, The mind's disease, its RULING PASSION came Each vital humour which should feed the whole, 140 Whatever warms the heart, or fills the head, As the mind opens, and its functions spread, 145 Reason itself but gives it edge and power As heaven's blest beam turns vinegar more sour: We, wretched subjects, though to lawful sway, In this weak queen, some fav'rite still obey. 150 Ah! if she lend not arms, as well as rules, 155 Proud of an easy conquest all along, She but removes weak passions for the strong So, when small humours gather to a gout, The doctor fancies he has driv'ņ them out. 160 Yes, nature's road must ever be preferr❜d; Reason is here no guide, but still a guard; 'Tis her's to rectify, not overthrow, And treat this passion more as friend than foe: A mightier power the strong direction sends, 165 And several men impels to several ends : Let power or knowledge, gold or glory, please, 170 Th' eternal art, educing good from ill, 175 The dross cements what else were too refin'd, And in one interest body acts with mind. As fruits, ungrateful to the planter's care, On savage stocks inserted, learn to bear; The surest virtues thus from passions shoot, Wild nature's vigor working at the root. What crops of wit and honesty appear From spleen, from obstinacy, hate, or fear! See anger, zeal and fortitude supply 180 185 Ev'n avarice, prudence-sloth, philosophy: Lust, through some certain strainers were refin'd Is gentle love, and charms all womankind; 190 Envy, to which th' ignoble mind's a slave, Is emulation in the learn'd or brave Nor virtue, male or female, can we name, But what will grow on pride, or grow on shame. Thus nature gives us (let it check our pride) 195 The virtue nearest to our vice ally'd: Reason the bias turns to good from ill, And Nero reigns a Titus, if he will. 200 This light and darkness in our chaos join'd, What shall divide? The God within the mind. 205 Extremes in nature equal ends produce, In man they join to some mysterious use; Tho' each by turns the other's bounds invade, As, in some well-wrought picture, light and shade, Where ends the virtue, or begins the vice. 210 Fools! who from hence into the notion fall, 215 Vice is a monster of so frightful mein, 220 But where's th' extreme of vice, was ne'er agreed: Ask where's the north? at York, 'tis on the Tweed; No creature owns it in the first degree, 225 But thinks his neighbour further gone than he; Ev'n those who dwell beneath its very zone, 230 Virtuous and vicious ev'ry man must be, Few in th' extreme, but all in the degree; The rogue and fool by fits is fair and wise; And ev❜n the best, by fits, what they despise. 'Tis but by parts we follow good or ill; For, vice or virtue, self directs it still: Each individual seeks a several goal; But Heav'n's great view is one, and that the whole; That disappoints th' effect of ev'ry vice; That, happy frailties to all ranks apply'd, Which seeks no intʼrest, no reward but praise ; 235 240 245 250 Bids each on other for assistance call, Till one man's weakness grows the strength of all. The common int'rest, or endear the tie. To these we own true friendship, love sincere, 255 Yet from the same we learn, in its decline, Those joys, those loves, those int'rests to resign: To welcome death, and calmly pass away. 260 |