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Show 86 TO EMS. A Refvery. AChofen Privacy, a cheap Content, And all the Peace a Friendfhip ever lent, A Rock which civil Nature made a Seat, A Willow that repulfes all the heat, The Beauteous quiet of a Summers day, A Brook which fobb'd aloud and ran away, Invited m y Repofe, and then confpir'd T o entertain m y Phancie thus retir'd. As Lucians Ferry-man aloft did view The angry World, and then laughM at it too; So all its fallen Follies feem to me But as a too-well acted Tragedy. One dangerous Ambition doth befool, Another Envies to fee that man Rule: One makes his Love the Parent of his Rage, For private friendfhip publickly t' engage: And fome for Confcience, fome for Honour die * And fome are meanly kill'd they know not why. More different than mens faces are their ends, W h o m yet one common Ruine can make Friends. Death, Duft and Darknefs they have only won, And haftily unto their Periods run. Death is a Leveller ; Beauty, and Kings, And Conquerors, and all thofe glorious things, Are tumbled to their Graves in one rude heap, Like common duft as quiet and as cheap. At greater Changes who would wonder then, Since Kingdoms have their Fates as well as men ? They muft fall fick and die \ nothing can be In this World certain, but uncertainty. Since Pow'r and Greatnefs are fuch flippery things, Who'd pity Cottages, or envy Kings? N o w leaft of all, when, weary of deceit, TJie World no longer flatters with the Great. Though <P 0 E M S. 87 Though fuch Confufions here below we find, As Providence were wanton with Mankind: Yet in this Chaos fome things do fend forth, (Like Jewels in the dark) a Native worth. He that derives Jiis high Nobility, Not from the mention of a Pedigree ; W h o thinks it not his praife that others know His Anceftors were gallant long ago ; W h o fcorns to boaft the Glories of his blood, And thinks he can't be great that is not good ; W h o knows the World, and what w e Pleafure call, Yet cannot fell one Confcience for them all j W h o hates to hoard that Gold with an excufe, For which he can find out a nobler ufe ; W h o dares not keep that Life that he can fpend, T o ferve his God, his Country, and his Friend } W h o flattery and falihood dothfo hate, He would not buy ten Lives at fuch a rate -, Whofe Soul, than Diamonds more rich and clear, Naked and open as his face doth wear ; W h o dares be good alone in fuch a time, W h e n Virtues held and punifh'd as a Crime $ W h o thinks dark crooked Plots a mean defence, And is both fafe and wife in Innocence h W h o dares both fight and die, but dares not fear \ Whofe only doubt is, if his caufo be clear ; Whofe Courage and his Juftice equal worn, Can dangers grapple, overcome and fcorn, Yet not infult upon a conquer'd Foe, But can forgive him and oblige him too; Whofe Friendfhip is congenial with his Soul, W h o where he gives a heart, beftows it whole 5 W h o f e other Ties, and Titles here do end, Or buried or compleated in the Friend; W h o ne'er refumes the Soul he once did give, While his Friend's Honefty and Honour live; And if his Friends content could coft the price, W o u l d count himfelf a happy Sacrifice \ W h o fe |