Pride of my youth, and Comfort of my age!
To thee I consecrate this useful page.
Vers'd in the nicest arts of human kind,
To thee thy Parent pours forth all his mind;
And be it thine to treasure in thy heart
The grand arcana, which I now impart.

As Health derives its most important charge,
More from the smaller vessels than the large,
On small events so man's success depends,
By these alone he gains the greatest ends;
And as he keeps this maxim, or forsakes,
A Trifle marrs him, or a Trifle makes.

Court then the Graces, court! as I have done;
This rule adopt, or quit the name of Son.
This I will hollow constant in thy ear,
As loud as Hotspur hollow'd Mortimer:
I would not keep a cat, or feed a bird,
That pip'd ungraceful, or ungraceful purr'd[1].

Let strict Attention all your acts direct,
It wins Applause, as it denotes Respect.
Observe it in the most minute degree,
As well when out of, as in company.
Observe it even in the Shrine of Ease,
An error there the Goddess may displease.
Learn what materials will your purpose fit,
And next enquire the Quantum sufficit;
That quantum then in even folds dispose,
And wipe as cleanly, as you'd wipe your Nose.
In ev'ry circumstance, in ev'ry place,
The ease of Nature asks the ease of Grace.
What pity 'tis! a Gentleman can't send
This vulgar deed his Proxy to attend.
'Tis quite beneath the dignity of man,
So prithee, Child! avoid it—if you can;
But if it prove an irksome, windy war,
And nought, but vent, can terminate the jar;
Distinct and graceful, let th' explosion sound,
And fill with Harmony the sweet profound.

Think not that Merit of itself can raise
Promotion's ladder, or the step of Praise[2].
How came Sir Fletcher in the Speaker's Chair!
Did Merit, or the Graces place him there.
Without the Graces what would Thurloe be!
Thurloe the Sage—a brief without a fee;
If more polite, perhaps he might be Chief,
And then he'd have the Fee without the Brief.
Say! was it Merit, like a blazing Star,
That first distinguish'd Dunning at the Bar!
By Grace, and Attitude, the Prize he won,
For he and Grace, and Grace and he are one;
And whilst his rapid energy alarms,
The Lawyer strikes us—but th' Adonis charms.

To Justice Blackstone now direct your eyes,
With him in parts what other Justice vies!
'Twas his to comment, his to analyze,
And draw the cobweb-curtain from our eyes;
Each legal winding nicely to explore,
And give to Rufus one sound Lawyer more.
But what of that! he might have still retail'd
Inglorious Fees, had not his form prevail'd;
His gracious form, by Nature fram'd to please,
Which robs Antinous of half his ease.

To Physic now—that claims the second place.
Schomberg has Skill, but Pringle has the Grace;
And yet—but how I know not—I protest,
That Schomberg's universally carest;
Hated perhaps—for taking Nature's part—
By none, but the Professors of the Art.

Tho' Bromfield operates as quick as thought,
His Fame and Judgment would be set at nought
Did not the sweetness of his soft Address,
That graceful mode he carves with, more or less,
Conduce to save his happy patient's life,
And make him look with pleasure at his knife.

Thus with Divines. The multitude caress
The Preacher of the most expert Address.
'Tis not the doctrine that the crowd revere,
They go to please the eye, and not the ear;
Hundreds, in spite of those who truly teach,
To ——[3] flock, tho' Peterborough preach.

Think you (and this to Chatham I submit)
That parts superior rais'd the name of Pitt!
No—'twas that elegant, Hans Stanley Ease,
That manner soft, which could not fail to please;
That magic something, which yet wants a name,
And hands Great Tallboy to immortal fame.

Say! was it parts (tho' Walpole ne'er had more)
That held up North amidst a factious roar!
With cautious eye the steady helm he guides,
And o'er the sea of state triumphant rides.
Firm, as the solid rock, that nobly braves
The raving fury of the lashing waves,
He stands—and mocks, un-conscious of a shame,
The voice of Clamour, and the lies of Fame.
But did th' exertion of his parts alone
Give, or deserve the favour of the throne!
Tho' blest with Goodness both of Heart and Head,
That goodness had remain'd inert and dead,
His well-earn'd consequence would ne'er maintain,

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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