Not that it alters Nature quite,
And fets perverted Reafon right,
But, like Hypocrify, conceals
The very paffions which fhe feels;
And claps a Vizor on the face,
To hide us from the World's disgrace,
Which, as the first Appearance strikes,
Approves of all things, or diflikes.
Like the fond fool with eager glee,
Who fold his all, and put to sea,
Lur'd by the calm which feemed to fleep
On the smooth furface of the Deep;
Nor dreamt its waves could proudly rife,
And tofs up mountains at the fkies.
APPEARANCE is the only thing,
A King's a Wretch, a Wretch a King.
Undress them both - You King, fuppofe
For once you wear the beggar's cloaths;
Cloaths that will take in every air;
Blefs me!, they fit you to a hair.
Now you, Sir Vagrant, quickly don
The robes his Majesty had on.
And now, O WORLD, fo wond'rous wife,
Who fee with fuch difcerning eyes,
Put obfervation to the Stretch,
Come which is King, and which is Wretch?
To cheat this World, the hardest task
Is to be conftant to our Mask.
Externals make direct impreffions
And masks are worn by all Profeffions.
What need to dwell on topics ftale ? Of Parfons drunk with wine or ale? Of Lawyers, who with face of brass, For learned Rhetoricians pass?
Of Scientific Doctors big,
Hid in the pent-house of their wig?
Whose converfation hardly goes
Beyond half words, and hums! and Oh's!
Of Scholars, of fuperior Tafte,
Who cork it up for fear of wafte,
Nor bring one bottle from their shelves,
But keep it always for themselves?
Wretches like thefe, my Soul difdains, And doubts their hearts as well as brains. Suppofe a Neighbour should defire
To light a candle at your fire,
Would it deprive your flame of Light,
Because another profits by't?
But Youth must often pay its court,
To these great Scholars, by report,
Who live on hoarded reputation,
Which dares no rifque of Conversation,
And boaft within a store of Knowledge,
Sufficient, blefs us! for a College,
But take a prudent care, no doubt,
That not a grain shall straggle out;
And are of Wit too nice and fine,
To throw their Pearl and gold to Swine;
And therefore, to prevent deceit,
Think every Man a Hog they meet.
These may perhaps as Scholars fhine, Who hang themselves out for a Sign. What fignifies a Lion's skin,
If it conceals an Afs within?
If thou'rt a Lion, prithee roar:
If Afs- bray once, and stalk no more.
In Words as well as Looks be wife,
Silence is Folly in Disguise;
With fo much wifdom bottled up,
Uncork, and give your friends a sup.
What need your nothings thus to save?
Why place the Dial in the Grave?
A fig for Wit and Reputation,
Which sneaks from all Communication.
So in a post-bag, cheek by jole,
Letters will go from pole to pole,
Which may contain a wond'rous deal;
But then they travel under seal,
And though they bear your Wit about,
Yet who fhall ever find it out,
Till trufty Wax forgoes its ufe,
And sets imprison'd meaning loose?
Yet idle Folly often deems
What Man must be from what He seems;
As if, to look a dwelling o'er,
You'd go no farther than the Door,
Mark yon round Parson, fat and fleek,
Who preaches only once a Week,
Whom Claret, Sloth, and Ven'son join
To make an orthodox Divine;
Whose Holiness receives its beauty
From Income large, and little Duty;
Who loves the Pipe, the Glafs, the Smock,
And keeps a Curate for his Flock.
The world, obfequious to his nod,
Shall hail this oily man of God,
While the poor prieft, with half a score
Of prattling infants at his Door,
Whose fober Wishes ne'er regale
Beyond the homely jug of Ale,
Is hardly deem'd companion fit
For Man of Wealth, or Man of Wit,
Though learn'd perhaps and wife as He
Who figns with ftaring S. T. P.
And full of facerdotal Pride,
Lays God and Duty both afide.
"This Curate, fay you, learn'd and wife! "Why does not then this Curate rife?
This Curate then, at forty-three,
(Years which become a Curacy)
At no great mart of Letters bred,
Had ftrange odd notions in his head,
That Parts, and Books, and Application,
Furnifh'd all means of Education;
And that a pulpiteer fhould know
More than his gaping flock below;
That Learning was not got with pain,
To be forgotten all again;
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