Twins ty'd by nature, if they part, they die. Haft thou no friend to set thy mind abroach? 465 Good fenfe will stagnate. Thoughts fhut up want air, And spoil, like bales unopen'd to the sun. Had thought been all, sweet speech had been deny'd; Speech, thought's canal! speech, thought's criterion too! Thought in the mine, may come forth gold, or dross; 470 When coin'd in word, we know its real worth. If sterling, store it for thy future use; 'Twill buy thee benefit; perhaps renown. Thought, too, deliver'd, is the more possest; Teaching, we learn; and, giving, we retain 475 The births of intellect; when dumb, forgot. Speech ventilates our intellectual fire ; Speech burnishes our mental magazine; Brightens, for ornament; and whets, for use. What numbers, feath'd in erudition, lie, 480 Plung'd to the hilts in venerable tomes, And rusted in ; who might have borne an edge, And play'd a sprightly beam, if born to speech; If born bleft heirs of half their mother's tongue ! 'Tis thought's exchange, which, like th' alternate push 485. Of waves conflicting, breaks the learned scum, And defecates the student's standing pool. In Contemplation is his proud resource? 'Tis poor, as proud, by Converse unsustain'd. Rude thought runs wild in Contemplation's field; 490 Converse, the menage, breaks it to the bit Of due restraint ; and emulation's fpur Gives Gives graceful energy, by rivals aw'd. 495 Wisdom, though richer than Peruvian mines, 505 510 515 Hearts Hearts melt, but melt like ice, foon harder froze. 525 I wrong her much-Entenders us for ever: Of Friendfip's faireft fruits, the fruit most fair Is Virtue kindling at a rival fire, And, emulously, rapid in her race. the soft enmity! endearing ftrife! 530 This carriés friendship to her noon-tide point, And gives the rivet of eternity. From Friendship, which outlives my former themes, Glorious survivor of old Time and Death; From Friendship, thus, that flower of heavenly feed; 535 The wise extracts earth's most Hyblean bliss, Superior wisdom, -crown'd with smiling joy. But for whom blossoms this Elyfian flower.? Abroad They find, who cherish it at Home. Lorenzo ! pardon what my love extorts, 540 An honest love, and not afraid to frown. Though choice of follies faften on the Great, None clings more obstinate than fancy fond That sacred friendship is their easy prey ; Caught by the wafture of a golden lure, 545 Or fascination of a high-born smile. Their smiles, the Great, and the Coquet, throw out For Others hearts, tenacious of their Own; And we no less of ours, when such the bait. Ye fortune's cofferers! Ye powers of wealth! 550 Can gold gain friendship? Impudence of hope ! As well mere man an angel might beget. Love, D 3 560 565 Love, and Love only, is the loan for love. 555 Àll like the purchase; few the price will pay ; And this makes friends such miracles below. What if (since daring on so nice a theme) dge before friendship, then confide till death. So sung He (angels hear that angels fing ! Angels from friendship gather half their joy) 575 So lung Philander, as his friend went round In the rich ichor, in the generous blood Of Bacchus, purple god of joyous wit, A brow folute, and ever-laughing eye. He drank long health, and vitrue, to his friend; 580 His friend, who warm'd him more, who more inspir’d. Friendship's the wine of life; but friendship new (Not 540 (Not such was His) is neither Strong, nor Pure. 0! for the bright complexion, cordial warmth, And elevating spirit, of a friend, 585 For twenty summers ripening by my side All feculence of falsehood long thrown down ; All social virtues rising in his soul; As crystal clear; and smiling as they rise ! Here Nectar flows ; it sparkles in our sight; 590 Rich to the taste, and genuine from the heart High-favour'd bliss for gods ! on earth how rare! On earth how loft !-Philander is no more. Think'st thou the theme intoxicates my song ? Am I too warm ? Too warm I cannot be. 595 I lov'd him much; but now I love him more. Like birds, whose beauties languish, half-conceal'd, Till, mounted on the wing, their glossy plumes Expanded shine with azure, green, and gold; How blessings brighten as they take their flight! 600 His flight Philander took ; his upward flight, If ever foul ascended. Had he dropt, (That eagle genius!) O had he let fall One feather as he flew.; I, then, had wrote, What friends might flatter ; prudent foes forbear; 605 Rivals scarce damn; and Zoilus reprieve. Yet what I can, I must; it were profane To quench a glory lighted at the skies, And cast in shadows his illustrious close. Strange! the theme most affecting, most sublime, 610 Momentous most to man, should sleep unsung ! And yet it sleeps, by genius unawak'd, Painim D 4 |