[9]
But 'twas thy righteous End, asham'd to see
Senates degen'rate, Patriots disagree,
And nobly wishing Party Rage to cease,
To buy both Sides, and give thy Country Peace.
Senates degen'rate, Patriots disagree,
And nobly wishing Party Rage to cease,
To buy both Sides, and give thy Country Peace.
"All this is madness, cries a sober Sage,
But who, my Friend, has Reason in his Rage?
The ruling Passion, be it what it will,
The ruling Passion conquers Reason still.
Less mad the wildest Whimsey we can frame,
Than ev'n that Passion, if it has no Aim;
For tho' such Motives Folly you may call,
The Folly's greater to have none at all.
But who, my Friend, has Reason in his Rage?
The ruling Passion, be it what it will,
The ruling Passion conquers Reason still.
Less mad the wildest Whimsey we can frame,
Than ev'n that Passion, if it has no Aim;
For tho' such Motives Folly you may call,
The Folly's greater to have none at all.
Hear then the truth: 'Tis Heav'n each Passion sends,
And diff'rent Men directs to diff'rent Ends.
"Extremes in Nature equal Good produce,
"Extremes in Man concur to general Use.
Ask we what makes one keep, and one bestow?
That Pow'r who bids the Ocean ebb and flow;
Bids Seed-time, Harvest, equal course maintain,
Thro' reconcil'd Extremes of Drought and Rain;
Builds Life on Death; on Change Duration founds,
And gives th' eternal Wheels to know their rounds.
And diff'rent Men directs to diff'rent Ends.
"Extremes in Nature equal Good produce,
"Extremes in Man concur to general Use.
Ask we what makes one keep, and one bestow?
That Pow'r who bids the Ocean ebb and flow;
Bids Seed-time, Harvest, equal course maintain,
Thro' reconcil'd Extremes of Drought and Rain;
Builds Life on Death; on Change Duration founds,
And gives th' eternal Wheels to know their rounds.
Riches
