Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 36.djvu/89

Rh Her hand holds forth the register exact, Of every generous, every friendly act; Favors in which esteem with friendship vied, Received not meanly, not conferred with pride: Such favors as those who confer forget, And who receive, declare without regret. This history of the virtues of mankind, Within a narrow compass is confined; In Gothic characters all these are traced Upon two sheets, by time almost defaced. By what strange frenzy is mankind possessed, Friendship is banished now from every breast; Yet all usurp of Friend the sacred name, And vilest hypocrites bring in their claim. All that they're faithful to her laws maintain, And even her enemies her rights profane: In regions subject to the pope's command, Thus we see beads oft in an atheist's hand. 'Tis said the goddess, each pretended friend, Once in her presence summoned to attend; She fixed the day on which they should be there, A prize proposing for each faithful pair; Who with a tenderness like hers replete, Amongst true friends might justly claim a seat; Then quickly came allured by such a prize, The French who novelty still idolize: A multitude before the temple came, And first, two courtly friends preferred their claim, By interest joined, they walked still hand in hand, And of their union Friendship thought the band: Post-haste a courier came and made report, That there was then a vacancy at court;