Page:Tales of instruction, in verse and prose.pdf/17

(17) The clergy ſay, they love me well;

Whether they do, they beſt can tell:

They paint me modeſt, friendly, wiſe,

And always praiſe me to the ſkies;

if conviction's at the heart,

Why not a correſpondent part?

ſhall the learned tongue prevail,

actions preach a diff'rent tale?

Who'll ſeek my door, or grace thy walls,

When neither dean nor prelate calls?

With thoſe my friendſhips moſt obtain,

Who prize their duty more than gain;

flow the hours whene'er we meet,

And conſcious virtue is our treat;

Our harmleſs breaſts no envy know,

And hence we fear no ſecret foe,

Our walks ambition ne'er attends,

And hence we aſk no pow'rful friends;

We wiſh the beſt to church and ſtate,

But leave the ſteerage to the great;

Careleſs, who riſes, or who falls,

And never dream of vacant ſtalls;

Much leſs by pride or int'reſt drawn,

Sigh for the mitre, and the lawn.

Obſerve the ſecrets of my art,

I'll fundamental truths impart:

And if you'll my advice purſue,

I'll quite my hut and dwell with you.