Man, but for that, no action could attend, Fix'd like a plant on his peculiar spot, Or, meteor-like, flame lawless through the void, Form'd but to check, delib'rate, and advise. 65 70 75 At best more watchful this, but that more strong. Reason still use, to reason still attend: Attention, habit and experience gains, Each strengthens reason, and self-love restrains. 80 Let subtle school-men teach these friends to fight, More studious to divide than to unite; And grace and virtue, sense and reason split, With all the rash dexterity of wit. 85 Wits, just like fools, at war about a name, Our greatest evil or our greatest good. III. Modes of self-love the passions we may call; And reason bids us for our own provide, Those, that imparted, court a noble aim, Exalt their kind, and take some virtue's name. 100 Their virtue fix'd; 'tis fixed as in a frost; 105 Nor God alone in the still calm we find, He mounts the storm, and walks upon the wind. 110 Passions, like elements, though born to fight, Yet, mix'd and soften'd, in his work unite : These 'tis enough to temper and employ; 115 These mix'd with art, and to due bounds confin'd, 720 Pleasures are ever in our hands or eyes, And when in act they cease, in prospect rise: The whole employ of body and of mind. All spread their charms, but charm not all alike; 125 130 135 Grows with his growth, and strengthens with his strength; So, cast and mingled with his very frame, The mind's disease its ruling passion came: Each vital humour which should feed the whole, Soon flows to this in body and in soul. 140 Whatever warms the heart, or fills the head, As the mind opens, and its functions spread, Imagination plies her dang'rous art, And pours it all upon the peccant part. Nature its mother, habit is its nurse; Wit. spirit, faculties, but make it worse; Reason itself but gives it edge and pow'r; 145 As heav'n's blest beam turns vinegar more sour. We, wretched subjects, though to lawful sway, In this weak queen, some fav'rite still obey. 150 A sharp accuser, but a helpless friend! Or from a judge turn pleader, to persuade 155 Proud of an easy conquest all along, She but removes weak passions for the strong. So, when small humours gather to a gout, 160 The doctor fancies he has driv'n them out. 'Tis her's to rectify, not overthrow, And treat this passion more as friend than foe : A mightier pow'r the strong direction sends, 165 And sev'ral men impels to sev'ral ends. Or oft (more stong than all) the love of ease; 170 Through life 'tis follow'd, ev'n at life's expense; The merchant's toil, the sages indolence, The monk's humility, the hero's pride, All, all alike, find reason on their side. Th' eternal art, educing good from ill, 175 180 And in one int'rest body acts with mind. As fruits ungrateful to the planter's care, On savage stocks inserted, learn to bear; The surest virtues thus from passions shoot, Wild nature's vigour working at the root. What crops of wit and honesty appear From spleen, from obstinacy, hate or fear! 185 190* Nor virtue, male or female, can we name, But what will grow on pride, or grow on shame. 195 The virtue nearest to our vice ally'd; Reason the bias turns to good from ill, 200 And makes a patriot as it makes a knave. VI. This light and darkness in our chaos join'd, What shall divide? The God within the mind. 205 In man they join to some mysterious use; As in some well-wrought picture, light and shade! Where ends the virtue, or begins the vice. 210 Fools! who from hence into the notion fall, 215 |