FRIENDSHIP. WHAT virtue or what mental grace And dulnefs of discretion. If every polished gem we find Provoke to imitation; No wonder friendship does the fame, No knave but boldly will pretend And dream that he had found one. Candid and generous and juft, Boys care but little whom they trust, For who but learns in riper years, But here again a danger lies, Left, having mifapplied our eyes An acquifition rather rare If either on forbidden ground, No friendship will abide the test, Or mean felf-love erected; For vicious ends connected. Who feek a friend, fhould come difpofed To exhibit in full bloom disclosed The graces and the beauties, That form the character he feeks, Mutual attention is implied, Our own as much diftorted. But will fincerity fuffice? It is indeed above all price, And must be made the bafis; But every virtue of the foul Muft conftitute the charming whole, All shining in their places. A fretful temper will divide The closeft knot that may be tied, A temper paffionate and fierce In vain the talkative unite In hopes of permanent delight— They drop through mere defire to prate, How bright foe'er the profpect seems, An envious man, if you fucceed, As envy pines at good poffeffed, On good, that feems approaching, And hates him for encroaching, Hence authors of illuftrious name, A man renowned for repartee With friendship's fineft feeling, Whoever keeps an open ear A friendship, that in frequent fits The fparks of disputation, Like hand in hand infurance plates, Moft unavoidably creates The thought of conflagration. Some fickle creatures boaft a foul True as a needle to the pole, Their humour yet fo various They manifeft their whole life through The needle's deviations too, Their love is fo precarious. |