Page:An Essay on Man - Pope (1751).pdf/64

 loves from whole to parts; but human soul Must rise from individual to the whole. Self-love but serves the virt'ous mind to wake, As the small pebble stirs the peaceful lake; The centre mov'd a circle strait succeeds, Another still, and still another spreads, Friend, parent, neighbour, first it will embrace, His country next, and next all human race, Wide and more wide, th' o'erflowings of the mind Take ev'ry creature in of ev'ry kind; Earth smiles around, with boundless bounty bless'd, And heav'n beholds its image in his breast. then, my friend, my genius, come along, Oh master of the poet, and the song! And while the muse now stoops, or now ascends, To man's low passions, or their glorious ends, Teach me, like thee, in various nature wise, To fall with dignity, with temper rise; Form'd by thy converse, happily to steer From grave to gay, from lively to severe; Correct with spirit, eloquent with ease, Intent to reason, or polite to please. Oh! while along the stream of time thy name Expanded flies, and gathers all its fame, Say, Shall my little bark attendant sail, Pursue the triumph, and partake the gale? When statesmen, heroes, kings, in dust repose, Whose sons shall blush their fathers were thy foes,