Where only Merit constant pay receives, Is bleft in what it takes, and what it gives; 315 And if it lofe, attended with no pain: And but more relish'd as the more diftrefs'd: The broadeft mirth unfeeling Folly wears, Lefs pleasing far than Virtue's very tears: 320 Good, from each object, from each place acquir'd, For ever exercis'd, yet never tir'd; Never elated, while one man's oppress'd; Never dejected, while another's bleft; And where no wants, no wishes can remain, 325 Since but to wish more Virtue, is to gain. See the fole blifs Heaven could on all beftow! Which who but feels can tafte, but thinks can know : But looks through Nature, up to Nature's God: Sees, VARIATION. After ver. 316. in the MS. Ev'n while it seems unequal to dispose, And chequers all the good Man's joys with woes, Which confcience gives, and nothing can destroy. G Sees, that no Being any bliss can know, 335 But touches fome above, and fome below; Learns, from this union of the rifing Whole, And knows where Faith, Law, Morals, all began, All end, in LOVE OF GOD, and LOVE OF MAN. 340 Are given in vain, but what they seek they find) Self-love thus push'd to social, to divine, Gives thee to make thy neighbour's bleffing thine. Grafp the whole worlds of Reafon, Life, and Senfe, Happier as kinder, in whate'er degree, And height of Bliss but height of Charity. God loves from Whole to Parts: but human foul As the fmall pebble ftirs the peaceful lake; 345 350 355 350 The The centre mov'd, a circle ftrait fucceeds, Earth fmiles around, with boundless bounty bleft, 365 370 Come then, my Friend! my Genius! come along; Oh master of the poet, and the fong! And while the Mufe now ftoops, or now afcends, 375 Teach me, like thee, in various Nature wife, 380 Intent to reason, or polite to please. Oh! while along the ftream of Time thy name Ver. 373. Come then, my Friend! &c.] In the MS. thus, And now tranfported o'er fo vaft a plain, While the wing'd courfer flies with all her rein, While heaven-ward now her mounting wing the feels, Now fcatter'd fools fly trembling from her heels, Wilt thou, my St. John! keep her courfe in fight, Confine her fury, and affifther flight? When statesmen, heroes, kings, in dust repose, VARIATION.. 390 395 Ver. 397. That Virtue only, &c.] In the MS. thus, THE |