The great and small but rarely mect On terms of amity complete, Plebeians muft surrender, And yield so much to noble folk, Some are so placid and ferene Unmoved and without quaking. Courtier and patriot cannot mix Without an effervescence, Like that of falts with lemon juice, Which does not yet like that produce A friendly coalefcence. Religion should extinguish ftrife, But friends that chance to differ On points, which God has left at large, How freely will they meet and charge No combatants are stiffer! To prove at laft my main intent Needs no expence of argument, No cutting and contriving- To adopt the chymifts golden dream, Sometimes the fault is all our own, Then judge yourself, and prove your man. As circumfpectly as you can, And having made election, Beware no negligence of yours, Such as a friend but ill endures, Enfeeble his affection. That fecrets are a facred truft, That friends fhould be fincere and juft, Are obfervations on the cafe, That favour much of common place, And all the world admits them. But 'tis not timber, lead, and ftone, To finish a fine building The palace were but half complete, If he could poffibly forget The carving and the gilding. The man that hails you Tom or Jack, Is fuch a friend, that one had need To pardon or to bear it. As fimilarity of mind, Or fomething not to be defined, So manners decent and polite, Some act upon this prudent plan, So barren fands imbibe the shower, The man I truft, if shy to me, Thefe famples-for alas! at laft Pursue the fearch, and you will find A principal ingredient. The nobleft Friendship ever fhewn Though fome have turned and turned it ; Have not, it seems, difcerned it. |