Since painted, or not painted, all shall fade, And she who scorns a man must die a maid; What then remains but well our power to use, Hairs less in sight, or any hairs but these!" And keep good humor still whate'er we Which long she wore, and now Belinda wears.) "Boast not my fall," he cried, "insulting foe! Thou by some other shalt be laid as low; Nor think to die dejects my lofty mind: All that I dread is leaving you behind! 100 Rather than so, ah, let me still survive, And burn in Cupid's flames-but burn alive." "Restore the lock!" she cries; and all around "Restore the lock!" the vaulted roofs rebound. Not fierce Othello in so loud a strain 105 Roared for the handkerchief that caused his pain. But see how oft ambitious aims are crossed, And chiefs contend till all the prize is lost! The lock, obtained with guilt, and kept with pain, But this bold lord, with manly strength So Heaven decrees! With Heaven who can There heroes' wits are kept in ponderous When those fair suns shall set, as set they Awake, my St. John! leave all meaner things To low ambition, and the pride of kings. Let us (since life can little more supply Than just to look about us and to die) Expatiate free o'er all this scene of man; 5 A mighty maze! but not without a plan; A wild, where weeds and flowers promiscuous shoot; Or garden, tempting with forbidden fruit. Together let us beat1 this ample field, Try what the open, what the covert yield; The latent tracts, the giddy heights, explore II Of all who blindly creep, or sightless soar; Eye nature's walks, shoot folly as it flies, And catch the manners living as they rise; Laugh where we must, be candid where Respecting man, whatever wrong we call, May, must be right, as relative to all. In human works, though labored on with pain, A thousand movements scarce one purpose gain; In God's, one single can its end produce; 55 Yet serves to second too some other use. So man, who here seems principal alone, Perhaps acts second to some sphere unknown, Touches some wheel, or verges to some goal: 'Tis but a part we see, and not a whole. 60 When the proud steed shall know why man restrains His fiery course, or drives him o'er the plains; When the dull ox, why now he breaks the clod, Is now a victim, and now Egypt's god; Then shall man's pride and dullness comprehend 65 His actions', passions', being's, use and end; Why doing, suffering, checked, impelled; and why This hour a slave, the next a deity. Then say not man's imperfect, Heaven in fault; Say rather, man's as perfect as he ought: 70 |