[228]
Miscellaneous Thoughts.[1]
All Men's Intrigues and Projects tend
By sev'ral Courses to one End,
To compass by the prop'rest Shows,
Whatever their Designs propose;
And that which owns the fair'st Pretext
Is often found the indirect'st.
Hence 'tis, that Hypocrites still paint
Much fairer, than the real Saint,
And Knaves appear more just and true,
Than honest Men, that make less Shew:
The dullest Idiots in Disguise
Appear more knowing than the wise;
By sev'ral Courses to one End,
To compass by the prop'rest Shows,
Whatever their Designs propose;
And that which owns the fair'st Pretext
Is often found the indirect'st.
Hence 'tis, that Hypocrites still paint
Much fairer, than the real Saint,
And Knaves appear more just and true,
Than honest Men, that make less Shew:
The dullest Idiots in Disguise
Appear more knowing than the wise;
- ↑ This, and the other little Sketches that follow, were among many of the same kind fairly wrote out by Butler in a sort of poetical Thesaurus, which I have before mentioned. Whether he intended ever to publish any of them, as separate distinct Thoughts, or to interweave them into some future Compositions, a Thing very usual with him, cannot be ascertained; nor is it, indeed, very material to those who are fond of his Manner of thinking and writing. I have ventured to give them the Title of Miscellaneous Thoughts; but I have not been over curious in placing them in any methodical order. Out of this Magazine he communicated to Mr. Aubrey that genuine Fragment printed in his Life, beginningNo Jesuit e'er took in Hand
To plant a Church in barren Land;
Nor ever thought it worth the while
A Swede or Russ to reconcile, &c.
