Far rais'd o'er thefe, fhe makes our blifs fecure,
The prefent pleafing, and the future fure.
While profp'rous guilt a fad reverse appears,
And in the tasteless now, the future fears.
Larinda, dearly lov'd, attend
The counfels of a faithful friend;
Who with the warmest wishes fraught,
Feels all, at leaft, that friendship ought.
But fince by ruling heav'n's defign,
Another's fate fhall influence thine
O! may these lines for him
A blifs, which I would die to fhare!
Man may for wealth or glory roam,
But woman must be bleft at home;
To this fhould all her studies tend,
This her
great object and her er d.
Distaste unmingled pleasures bring,
And use can blunt affliction's fting;
Hence perfect bliss no mortals know,
And few are plung'd in utter woe;
While nature arm'd against despair,
Gives pow'r to mend, or strength to bear;
And half the thought content may gain,
Which spleen employs to purchase pain.
Trace not the fair domeftic plan,
From what you would, but what you can!
Nor, peevish, fpurn the scanty store,
Because you think you merit more!
Blifs ever differs in degree,
Thy share alone is meant for thee;
And thou fhould'st think, however small,
That share enough, for 'tis thy all:
Vain fcorn will aggravate diftress,
And only make that little less.
Admit whatever trifles come,
Units compofe the largest sum :
O! tell them o'er, and say how vain
Are those which form ambition's train:
Which fwell the monarch's gorgeous state,
And bribe to ill the guilty great!
But thou more bleft, more wife than these,
Shalt build up happiness on ease.
Hail fweet Content! where joy ferene
Gilds the mild foul's unruffled scene;
And with blith fancy's pencil wrought,
Spreads the white web of flowing thought;
Shines lovely in the cheerful face,
And cloaths each charm with native grace;
Effufion pure of bliss fincere,
A vestment for a god to wear.
Far other ornaments compofe
The garb that fhrouds diffembled woes,
Piec'd out with motley dies and forts,
Freaks, whimfies, feftivals and sports;
The troubled mind's fantastic drefs,
Which madness titles happiness.
While the gay wretch to revel bears
The pale remains of fighs and tears;
And feeks in crowds, like her undone,
What only can be found in one.
But, chief, my gentle friend! remove
Far from thy couch feducing love!
O! fhun the falfe magician's art,
Nor truft thy yet unguarded heart!
Charm'd by his fpells fair honour flies,
And thoufand treach'rous phantoms rise,
Where guilt in beauty's ray beguiles,
And ruin lurks in friendship's smiles.
Lo! where th' enchanted captive dreams
Of warbling groves, and purling streams;
Of painted meads, of flowers that shed
Their odours round her fragrant bed.
Quick fhifts the fcene, the charm is loft,
She wakes upon a defert coast!
No friendly hand to lend its aid,
No guardian bow'r to fpread its fhade;
Expos'd to every chilling blast,
She treads th' inhofpitable wafte;
And down the drear decline of life,
Sinks a forlorn, difhonour'd wife.
Neglect not thou the voice of Fame,
But clear from crime, be free from blame!
Though all were innocence within,
'Tis guilt to wear the garb of fin.
Virtue rejects the foul disguise:
None merit praise who praise despise.
Slight not, in fupercilious strain,
Long practis'd modes, as low or vain!
The world will vindicate their cause,
And claim blind faith in custom's laws.
Safer with multitudes to stray,
Than tread alone a fairer way;
To mingle with the erring throng,
Than boldly speak ten millions wrong.
Beware of the relentless train,
Who forms adore, whom forms maintain !
Left prudes demure, or coxcombs loud,
Accuse thee to the partial crowd;
Foes who the laws of honour flight,
A judge who measures guilt by spite.
Behold the fage Aurelia ftand,
Difgrace and fame at her command!
As if heaven's delegate defign'd,
Sole arbiter of all her kind.
Whether she try fome favour'd piece,
By rules devis'd in ancient Greece;
Or whether modern in her flight,
She tells what Paris thinks polite.
For much her talents to advance,
She study'd Greece, and travell'd France.
There learn'd the happy art to please,
With all the charms of labour'd ease;
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