SINK not, my friend, beneath misfortune's weight, Pleased to be found intrinsically great. Shame on the dull, who think the soul looks less, Because the body wants a glittering dress. It is the mind's for ever bright attire, The mind's embroidery, that the wise admire! That which looks rich to the gross vulgar eyes Is the fop's tinsel which the grave despise. Wealth dims the eyes of crowds, and while they gaze, The coxcomb's ne'er discovered in the blaze! As few the vices of the wealthy see, So virtues are concealed by poverty. Earl Rivers!—In that name how wouldst thou shine? Thy verse how sweet! thy fancy how divine! Critics and bards would, by their worth, be awed, And all would think it merit to applaud. But thou hast nought to please the vulgar eye, No title hast, nor what might titles buy. Thou wilt small praise, but much ill-nature find, Clear to thy errors, to thy beauties blind; And if, though few, they any faults can see, How meanly bitter will cold censure be! But, since we all, the wisest of us, err, Sure 'tis the greatest fault to be severe. A few, however, yet expect to find, Among the misty millions of mankind, Who proudly stoop to aid an injured cause, And o'er the sneer of coxcombs force applause, Who, with felt pleasure, see fair Virtue rise, And lift her upwards to the beckoning prize! Or mark her labouring in the modest breast, And honour her the more, the more depress'd. Thee, Savage, these (the justly great) admire, Thee, quickening judgment's phlegm with fancy's fire! Thee, slow to censure, earnest to commend, An able critic, but a willing friend. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE ON THE POETICAL CHARACTER by WILLIAM COLLINS (1721-1759) MARRIAGE A-LA-MODE: SONG by JOHN DRYDEN VICKSBURG by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE ONE'S-SELF I SING by WALT WHITMAN BENEDICITE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER THE ARGONAUTS (ARGONATUICA): EROS AND HIS MOTHER by APOLLONIUS RHODIUS |