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Epigrams and short Poems.
To Mr. Addison on Cato.
THE mind to virtue is by verse subdu'd,
And the true poet is a publick good:
This Britain feels, while, by your lines inspir'd,
Her free born sons to glorious thoughts are fir'd. 4
In Rome had you espous'd the vanquish'd cause,
Inflam'd her senate and upheld her laws,
Your manly scenes had liberty restor'd,
And giv'n the just success to Cato's sword, 8
O'er Cæsar's arms your genius had prevail'd,
And the muse triumph'd where the patriot fail'd.
And the true poet is a publick good:
This Britain feels, while, by your lines inspir'd,
Her free born sons to glorious thoughts are fir'd. 4
In Rome had you espous'd the vanquish'd cause,
Inflam'd her senate and upheld her laws,
Your manly scenes had liberty restor'd,
And giv'n the just success to Cato's sword, 8
O'er Cæsar's arms your genius had prevail'd,
And the muse triumph'd where the patriot fail'd.
On Wit and Wisdom.
A FRAGMENT.
IN search of wisdom far from wit I fly:
Wit is a harlot, beauteous to the eye,
In whose bewitching arms our early time
We waste, and vigour of our youthful prime: 4
But when reflexion comes with riper years,
And manhood with a thoughtful brow appears,
We cast the mistress off to take a wife,
And, wed to wisdom, lead a happy life.8
Wit is a harlot, beauteous to the eye,
In whose bewitching arms our early time
We waste, and vigour of our youthful prime: 4
But when reflexion comes with riper years,
And manhood with a thoughtful brow appears,
We cast the mistress off to take a wife,
And, wed to wisdom, lead a happy life.8
The
