Classic Poem

Farewell aspiring Thoughts, no more
My Soul shall leave the peaceful Shore,
To fail Ambition's Main;
Fallacious as the Harlot's Kiss,
You promise me uncertain Bliss,
And give me certain Pain.

A BEAUTEOUS Prospect first you shew,
Which ere survey'd you paint anew,
And paint it wond'rous pleasant:
This in a third is quickly lost;
Thus future Good we covet most,
But ne'er enjoy the present.

Deluded on from Scene to Scene,
We never end, but still begin,
By flatt'ring Hope betray'd;
I'm weary of the painful Chace,
Let others run this endless Race
To catch a flying Shade.

L ET others boast their useless Wealth;
Have I not Honesty and Health?
Which Riches cannot give:
Let others to Preferment soar,
And, changing Liberty for Pow'r,
In golden Shackles live.

'Tis time, at length, I should be wise,
'Tis time to seek substantial Joys;
Joys out of Fortune's Pow'r:
Wealth, Honours, Dignities, and Fame,
Are Toys the blind capricious Dame
Takes from us ev'ry Hour.

C OME , conscious Virtue, fill my Breast,
And bring Content, thy Daughter, dress'd
In ever-smiling Charms:
Let sacred Friendship too attend;
A Friendship worthy of my Friend,
Such as my L ÆLIUS warms.

With these I'll in my Bosom make
A Bulwark Fortune cannot shake,
Tho' all her Storms arise;
Look down and pity gilded Slaves,
Despise Ambition's giddy Knaves,
And wish the Fools were wise.