Classic Poem

T HOU great Support of Courage, Fame, and Sense;
Hail to Thee, bold and prosp'rous Impudence!
Knaves, but for Thee, must feel Reproach and Shame,
And Fools become the Laughing-Stocks of Fame.
Tame Cowards, but for Thee, might stand disclos'd
In all their Weakness to their Foes expos'd
Thou do'st the Poets to Preferment raise;
Wits, wanting Thee, would want both Friends and Praise.
Weak Modesty is Reason's worst Disgrace,
Courage, by That, for Cowardice wou'd pass;
Since but for daring, pushing Impudence,
Courage seems Weakness; Wit, Impertinence.

Then Impudence no Shame to Man can be,
Which him from Shame in ev'ry State does free;
Nor with the Women for Disgrace shou'd go,
Without which none cou'd their good Breeding shew.
Thus Both to Credit from this Talent rise,
And dare each weak Disparagement despise.
Whilst Thou assist'st them to o'ercome that Shame.
Which Shyness and Distrust would but proclaim.
Our Love, Wit, Honour, all without thy Aid
Wou'd languish in an undistinguish'd Shade.
No good, or great Examples e'er be known,
No bold Truths spoken, nor great Actions done
Since bashful, sneaking, tim'rous Modesty
Conceals that Virtue it shou'd justifie:
Which, but for Impudence, most useless were,
And could not on the publick Stage appear.

What Praise, what Honours may'st thou justly claim,
That do'st promote our Fortunes, and our Fame?
As best thou draw'st our Virtues out to sight,
And sett'st them in the strongest Point of Light:
Scorning on Truth t' impose a farded Dress,
Thou shew'st her in her primal Nakedness:
And still to Nature art so just a Friend,
Thou striv'st not ought to palliate, or defend.
Each Art, each Affectation do'st disdain,
Man's Favour, or a Woman's Heart to gain;
Nor e'er did'st use a Vizard or Disguise,
T' extort their Money, or good Will surprize;
Thy Enmity and Kindness still appear
Open and plain, unartful and sincere.
Well may'st thou too th' Ascendant boast o'er Fate,
Since from themselves the Bold are fortunate:
And thou, like Fortune, art their constant Friend,
Who will on thee, in spite of Sense, depend;
Since thou by strong Imagination too,
'Gainst Nature, Sense, and Wit, can'st Wonders do.
Support the Small, and justifie the Great;
Nay make ev'n trembling Cowards desperate.
In War, or Peace, in Law-Suits, or in Love,
A Second to the weakest Side do'st prove:
Dispatch and Execution on thee wait,
While Modesty proceeds with cautious State.
Thou, Warriour-like, do'st scour the dang'rous Field,
While she to ev'ry Bug-bear Doubt does yield.
Almanzor -like, thy bold Disciples are,
And all things do , because they all things dare .
Thus Impudence, which most unjustly we,
The Shame of all the Virtues think to be:
Mistakingly we their Dishonour call,
Which is the Cause, and the Support to all:
For ne'er cou'd Honour, Courage, Virtue, Wit,
Be brought into Example but for it;
All undistinguish'd, but for her wou'd lie
Unknown, unpractis'd, in Obscurity.

Then Men that Impudence their Praise should deem,
Which recommends them to the World's Esteem;
Aids them to gain their Riches, Love or Fame;
The better Title, as ye bolder Claim;
With happy Forwardness its Sons supplies,
And is the Cause that Fortune nought denies
To them that scorn to beg precariously,
But to themselves are their own Destiny.
Inspir'd by thee, great Men great Actions do,
And Ravishers of jilting Fortune grow;
Whilst still the Bashful, and Precise, in vain,
At aweful Distance sue her Smiles to gain.
In Court, or Camp, bold Fools are sure to rise,
Who laugh at Conscience, and weak Curbs despise.
By no Opinions from their Aims are sway'd,
But think all just that does their Int'rest aid.
Men of this Stamp can all things bring about,
Who in their Conduct, neither fear nor doubt.

In short, successful Impudence bestows
Whate'er Relief its Clients can propose:
Does ev'ry Means to ev'ry End supply,
And to all Wants gives All-sufficiency.
It acts all Virtues, tho' it self be none,
And from its Influence Merit thrives alone.
Nay, and such mighty Wonders can it do,
As reconcile ev'n Contradictions too;
Disguise it self without Disguise, and seem
Ev'n Modesty, its opposite Extream.
Boldly it self against it self maintain,
By which its Essence is but made more plain;
Since sure no greater Boldness can be shown
By Impudence, than when 'twou'd pass for none.