"The ruling Paffion, be it what it will, "The ruling Paffion conquers Reason still." Lefs mad the wildest whimsey we can frame, 155 Than ev'n that Paffion, if it has no Aim; For tho' fuch motives Folly you may call, The Folly's greater to have none at all. Hear then the truth: ""Tis Heav'n each Paffion «fends, "And diff'rent men directs to diff'rent ends. 160 "Extremes in Nature equal good produce, "Extremes in Man concur to gen'ral use. Afk we what makes one keep, and one bestow? 170 180 Old Cotta fham'd his fortune and his birth, Than Bramins, Saints, and Sages did before; 185 190 And who would take the Poor from Providence? Not fo his Son, he mark'd this overfight, IMITATIONS. VER. 182. With foups unbought,] dapibus menfas onerabat inemptis. VIRG. P. (For what to fhun will no great knowledge need, But what to follow, is a task indeed.) More go to ruin Fortunes, than to raise. 200 What flaughter'd hecatombs, what floods of wine, 205 "Tis GEORGE and LIBERTY that crowns the cup NOTES. VER. 199. (For what to fbun will no great knowledge need, But what to follow, is a task indeed.)] The poet is here speaking only of the knowledge gained by experience Now there are fo many miferable examples of ill conduct, that no one, with his eyes open, can be at a lofs to know what to fun; but, very inviting ex amples of a good conduct are extremely rare: Befides, the mischiefs of folly are eminent and obvious; but the fruits of prudence, remote and retired from common obfervation ; and if feen at all, yet their dependance on their caufes not being direct and immediate, they are not cafily understood. To town he comes, completes the nation's hope, VARIATIONS. After 218. in the MS. 220 Where one lean herring furnish'd Cotta's board, NOTES. VER. 219, 220. The Senfe to value Riches, with the Art, T'enjoy them, and the Virtue to impart.] The Senfe to value Riches, is not, in the City - meaning, the Senfe in valuing them: For as Riches may be enjoyed without Art, and imparted with Virtue, fo they may be valued without Sense. That man therefore only fhews he has the fenfe to value Riches, who keeps what he has acquired, in order to enjoy one part of it innocently and elegantly, in fuch meafure and degree as his ftation may juftify, which the poet calls the Art of enjoy Not meanly, nor ambitiously purfu'd, Not funk by floth, nor rais'd by servitude ; Join with Oeconomy, Magnificence; 224 With Splendor, Charity; with Plenty, Health; Oh teach us, BATHURST! yet unspoil'd by wealth! B. To Worth or Want well-weigh'd, be Bounty giv❜n, And eafe, or emulate, the care of Heav'n; VARIATIONS. After 226. in the MS. That fecret rare, with affluence hardly join'd, NOTES. ing and to impart the remainder amongst objects of worth, or want well weigh'd; which is, indeed, the Virtue of imparting. 230 |