"Tis indolence that clogs your mind!
That load from off your spirits shake; You"ll own and grieve for your mistake; _80 A while your thoughtless spleen suspend, Then read, and (if you can) attend.
As Plutus, to divert his care, Walked forth one morn to take the air, Cupid o"ertook his strutting pace, Each stared upon the stranger"s face, Till recollection set them right; For each knew t"other but by sight.
After some complimental talk, Time met them, bowed, and joined their walk.
_90 Their chat on various subjects ran, But most, what each had done for man.
Plutus a.s.sumes a haughty air, Just like our purse-proud fellows here.
"Let kings," says he, "let cobblers tell, Whose gifts among mankind excel.
Consider Courts: what draws their train?
Think you "tis loyalty or gain?
That statesman hath the strongest hold, Whose tool of politics is gold.
_100 By that, in former reigns, "tis said, The knave in power hath senates led.
By that alone he swayed debates, Enriched himself and beggared states.
Forego your boast. You must conclude, That"s most esteemed that"s most pursued.
Think too, in what a woful plight That wretch must live whose pocket"s light.
Are not his hours by want depress"d?
Penurious care corrodes his breast.
_110 Without respect, or love, or friends, His solitary day descends."
"You might," says Cupid, "doubt my parts, My knowledge too in human hearts, Should I the power of gold dispute, Which great examples might confute.
I know, when nothing else prevails, Persuasive money seldom fails; That beauty too (like other wares) Its price, as well as conscience, bears.
_120 Then marriage (as of late profess"d) Is but a money-job at best.
Consent, compliance may be sold: But love"s beyond the price of gold.
Smugglers there are, who by retail, Expose what they call love, to sale, Such bargains are an arrant cheat: You purchase flattery and deceit.
Those who true love have ever tried, (The common cares of life supplied,) _130 No wants endure, no wishes make, But every real joy partake, All comfort on themselves depends; They want nor power, nor wealth, nor friends.
Love then hath every bliss in store: "Tis friendship, and "tis something more.
Each other every wish they give, Not to know love, is not to live."
"Or love, or money," Time replied, "Were men the question to decide, _140 Would bear the prize: on both intent, My boon"s neglected or misspent.
"Tis I who measure vital s.p.a.ce, And deal out years to human race.
Though little prized, and seldom sought, Without me love and gold are nought.
How does the miser time employ?
Did I e"er see him life enjoy?
By me forsook, the h.o.a.rds he won, Are scattered by his lavish son.
_150 By me all useful arts are gained; Wealth, learning, wisdom is attained.
Who then would think (since such, my power) That e"er I knew an idle hour?
So subtle and so swift I fly, Love"s not more fugitive than I.
Who hath not heard coquettes complain Of days, months, years, misspent in vain?
For time misused they pine and waste, And love"s sweet pleasures never taste.
_160 Those who direct their time aright, If love or wealth their hopes excite, In each pursuit fit hours employed, And both by Time have been enjoyed.
How heedless then are mortals grown!
How little is their interest known?
In every view they ought to mind me; For when once lost they never find me."
He spoke. The G.o.ds no more contest, And his superior gift confess"d; _170 That time when (truly understood) Is the most precious earthly good.
FABLE XIV.
THE OWL, THE SWAN, THE c.o.c.k, THE SPIDER, THE a.s.s, AND THE FARMER.
TO A MOTHER.
Conversing with your sprightly boys, Your eyes have spoke the mother"s joys.
With what delight I"ve heard you quote Their sayings in imperfect note!
I grant, in body and in mind, Nature appears profusely kind.
Trust not to that. Act you your part; Imprint just morals on their heart, Impartially their talents scan: Just education forms the man.
_10 Perhaps (their genius yet unknown) Each lot of life"s already thrown; That this shall plead, the next shall fight, The last a.s.sert the church"s right.
I censure not the fond intent; But how precarious is the event!
By talents misapplied and cross"d, Consider, all your sons are lost.
One day (the tale"s by Martial penned) A father thus addressed his friend: _20 "To train my boy, and call forth sense, You know I"ve stuck at no expense; I"ve tried him in the several arts, (The lad no doubt hath latent parts,) Yet trying all, he nothing knows; But, crab-like, rather backward goes.
Teach me what yet remains undone; "Tis your advice shall fix my son."
"Sir," says the friend, "I"ve weighed the matter; Excuse me, for I scorn to flatter: _30 Make him (nor think his genius checked) A herald or an architect."
Perhaps (as commonly "tis known) He heard the advice, and took his own.
The boy wants wit; he"s sent to school, Where learning but improves the fool: The college next must give him parts, And cram him with the liberal arts.
Whether he blunders at the bar, Or owes his infamy to war; _40 Or if by licence or degree The s.e.xton shares the doctor"s fee: Or from the pulpit by the hour He weekly floods of nonsense pour; We find (the intent of nature foiled) A tailor or a butcher spoiled.
Thus ministers have royal boons Conferred on blockheads and buffoons: In spite of nature, merit, wit, Their friends for every post were fit.
_50 But now let every Muse confess That merit finds its due success.
The examples of our days regard; Where"s virtue seen without reward?
Distinguished and in place you find Desert and worth of every kind.
Survey the reverend bench, and see, Religion, learning, piety: The patron, ere he recommends, Sees his own image in his friends.
_60 Is honesty disgraced and poor?
What is"t to us what was before?
We all of times corrupt have heard, When paltry minions were preferred; When all great offices by dozens, Were filled by brothers, sons, and cousins.
What matter ignorance and pride?
The man was happily allied.
Provided that his clerk was good, What though he nothing understood?
_70 In church and state, the sorry race Grew more conspicuous fools in place.
Such heads, as then a treaty made, Had bungled in the cobbler"s trade.
Consider, patrons, that such elves, Expose your folly with themselves.
"Tis yours, as "tis the parent"s care, To fix each genius in its sphere.
Your partial hand can wealth dispense, But never give a blockhead sense.
_80 An owl of magisterial air, Of solemn voice, of brow austere, a.s.sumed the pride of human race, And bore his wisdom in his face; Not to depreciate learned eyes, I"ve seen a pedant look as wise.
Within a barn, from noise retired, He scorned the world, himself admired; And, like an ancient sage, concealed The follies public life revealed.
_90 Philosophers of old, he read, Their country"s youth to science bred, Their manners formed for every station, And destined each his occupation.
When Xenophon, by numbers braved, Retreated, and a people saved, That laurel was not all his own; The plant by Socrates was sown; To Aristotle"s greater name The Macedonian[10] owed his fame.
_100 The Athenian bird, with pride replete, Their talents equalled in conceit; And, copying the Socratic rule, Set up for master of a school.
Dogmatic jargon learnt by heart, Trite sentences, hard terms of art, To vulgar ears seemed so profound, They fancied learning in the sound.
The school had fame: the crowded place With pupils swarmed of every race.
_110 With these the swan"s maternal care Had sent her scarce-fledged cygnet heir: The hen (though fond and loath to part) Here lodged the darling of her heart: The spider, of mechanic kind, Aspired to science more refined: The a.s.s learnt metaphors and tropes, But most on music fixed his hopes.
The pupils now advanced in age, Were called to tread life"s busy stage.
_120 And to the master "twas submitted, That each might to his part be fitted.
"The swan," says he, "in arms shall shine: The soldier"s glorious toil be thine.
The c.o.c.k shall mighty wealth attain: Go, seek it on the stormy main.
The Court shall be the spider"s sphere: Power, fortune, shall reward him there.
In music"s art the a.s.s"s fame Shall emulate Corelli"s[1] name.
_130 Each took the part that he advised, And all were equally despised; A farmer, at his folly moved, The dull preceptor thus reproved: "Blockhead," says he, "by what you"ve done, One would have thought "em each your son: For parents, to their offspring blind, Consult, nor parts, nor turn of mind; But even in infancy decree What this, what t"other son should be.
_140 Had you with judgment weighed the case, Their genius thus had fixed their place: The swan had learnt the sailor"s art; The c.o.c.k had played the soldier"s part; The spider in the weaver"s trade With credit had a fortune made; But for the fool, in every cla.s.s The blockhead had appeared an a.s.s."