Whom flow'rs alone I knew would little pleafe, To charm his ear, whofe eye is on the heart; Whofe frown can difappoint the proudeft ftrain, Whofe approbation-prosper even mine, AN EPISTLE то JOSEPH HILL, ESQ DEAR JOSEPH-five and twenty years ago— True. Changes will befall, and friends may part, And, And, were I call'd to prove th' affertion true, Whence comes it then, that in the wane of life, Though nothing have occurr'd to kindle ftrife, We find the friends we fancied we had won, Though num'rous once, reduc'd to few or none? Can gold grow worthlefs that has stood the touch? No: Gold they feem'd, but they were never fuch. Horatio's fervant once, with bow and cringe, Swinging the parlour-door upon its hinge, Dreading a negative, and overaw’d Left he should trefpafs, begg'd to go abroad. Go, fellow whither?-turning fhort about Nay. Stay at home; you're always going out. 'Tis but a ftep, fir, juft at the street's end For what? An please you, fir, to fee a friend. A friend! Horatio cried, and feem'd to start Yea marry fhalt thou, and with all my heart And fetch my cloak, for though the night be raw I knew the man, and knew his nature mild, And was his play-thing often when a child; Perhaps, his confidence just then betray'd, His grief might prompt him with the speech he made; The harmless play of pleasantry and mirth. But not to moralize too much, and strain No matter where, in China or Japan, Decreed |