Page:Poetical Works of John Oldham.djvu/217

Rh The hero's virtue and chief excellence; Pray, what was Alexander in your sense? A fool belike.' Yes, faith, sir, much the same; A crack-brained huff that set the world on flame; A lunatic broke loose, who in his fit Fell foul on all, invaded all, he met; Who, lord of the whole globe, yet not content, Lacked elbow-room, and seemed too closely pent. What madness was't, that, born to a fair throne, Where he might rule with justice and renown, Like a wild robber, he should choose to roam, A pitied wretch, with neither house nor home, And hurling war and slaughter up and down, Through the wide world make his vast folly known? Happy for ten good reasons had it been, If Macedon had had a Bedlam then; That there with keepers under close restraint, He might have been from frantic mischief pent. But that we mayn't in long digressions now Discourse all Reynolds, and the Passions through, And ranging them in method stiff and grave, Rhyme on by chapter and by paragraph; Let's quit the present topic of dispute, For More and Cud worth to enlarge about; And take a view of man in his best light, Wherein he seems to most advantage set. ' 'Tis he alone,' you'll say, ’ 'tis happy he, That's framed by nature for society; He only dwells in towns, is only seen With manners and civility to shine; Does only magistrates and rulers choose, And live secured by government and laws.'