Suppose Cadenus flourish'd then,
He must adore such godlike men.695
If one short volume could comprise
All that was witty, learn'd, and wise,
How would it be esteem'd and read,
Although the writer long were dead!
If such an author were alive,700
How all would for his friendship strive,
And come in crowds to see his face!
And this she takes to be her case.
Cadenus answers every end,
The book, the author, and the friend;705
The utmost her desires will reach,
Is but to learn what he can teach:
His converse is a system fit
Alone to fill up all her wit;
While every passion of her mind710
In him is centred and confin'd.
Love can with speech inspire a mute,
And taught Vanessa to dispute.
This topick, never touch'd before,
Displayed her eloquence the more:715
Her knowledge, with such pains acquir'd,
By this new passion grew inspir'd;
Through this she made all objects pass
Which gave a tincture o'er the mass;
As rivers, though they bend and twine,720
Still to the sea their course incline;
Or, as philosophers, who find
Some favourite system to their mind,
In every point to make it fit,
Will force all nature to submit.725
Cadenus, who could ne'er suspect
His lessons would have such effect,
