In shallow wits, this feature's always found, Truth is rejected for the simple sound, And sterling worth for gaudy senseless pride. With Fools no fault is undeserving praise, Who in opposing sense, is loudest railing. Thus when the giddy fool doth most conceive, * Poets have ever been deemed the slaves of vanity; nor should we omit musicians and players, who may well boast in this respect, the palm of folly. Among the latter class, none was perhaps ever more famed, than the great Garrick, who would even debase himself so far as to feel gratified at the panegyrics of his own barber. That poets, however, should have a share of vanity is not so surprising, when we consider that they are never governed by reason, which is the first step towards wisdom. In fine, we will conclude this head, by stating of a vain man, that "He is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men who can render a reason." L'ENVOY OF THE POET. The wisest of us hath no cause to boast, Conceit with fools alone is deem'd a feast; For in those breasts where reason rules the roast The most enlighten'd seem to know the least. THE POET'S CHORUS TO FOOLS. Come, trim the boat, row on each Rara Avis, SECTION XX. OF USURIOUS FOOLS. He that by usury and unjust gain, increaseth his substance, He shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. THE sordid wretch, on gold intent, SOLOMON, Will take, unblushing, cent. per cent. :* On lucre gluts the avaricious mind; For which it sells the welfare of mankind. * Usury walks arm in arm with avarice; for, although it does not hoard its pelf from the public, it never dispenses it but with the certainty of restitution with swinging interest; for the cry is gold begets gold: and although the adage may be verified by all such as have it at command, and will lend it out at usury, they, nevertheless, will find in the sequel, that satisfaction doth not attend its increase; for happiness kicks the beam, leaving them the slaves of unceasing anxiety, apprehension, and fear. L'avaro quanto più hà, tanto più è bisognoso. Not more doth screech-owl shock the ear Of music, than, if usʼrers hear That legal interest you uphold, When talking of the worth of gold. Such is their love of the Peruvian store, That Israel's golden calf they all adore. Nay, since that hour, each Jewish elf 'Tis Crœsus constitutes their sole delight. No matter so they've gold, how they come by't. * Although in this stanza the poet hath, according to custom, levelled his shafts at the descendants of Abraham, the Christians are no less reluctant than themselves in amassing gold at any price: and I very much question, if there are not existing among us many Judas's, who would not scruple at any sacrifice, so that wealth was but the purchase: for as religion, honour, and probity, have long been discarded by all ranks of society, in order to its attainment, I conceive that there would be no difficulty in bringing Christians to the perpetration of any crime in the service of Croesus. Yet, let such fools remember, Remember well this sterling rule, One spends as dross, till bow'd by want's fell rod: T'other no duty owns.-His gold his god. L'ENVOY OF THE POET. Temper instruction, so that youth may learn What constitutes of wealth the sterling bliss. Teach him, alike the two extremes to spurn: For he who treads the middle path can't miss. THE POET'S CHORUS TO FOOLS. Come, trim the boat, row on each Rara Avis, Multa petentibus Desunt multa. Bene est cui Deus obtulit Parca quod satis est manu. |