THE Mufe in a Moral Humour. AVARO and AM AND A. W A TALE. By Mr. STEPHEN DUCK. HAT Ills from Want of Education flow, From Avarice what cruel Scenes of I mean to fing; except the tuneful Maid A foreign Clime, and quit his native Shore? Say too, how on the barb'rous Ifle he came; What mov'd the Kindness of the Negro Dame? B What What cou'd provoke a faithlefs Youth to fell A Friend, whofe only Crime was loving well? Now had Avaro twenty Winters pass'd, His graceful Charms the Ladies oft survey'd, No Myfteries of Faith difturb'd his Head; For Mysteries of Faith he seldom read; That moral Law, which Nature had impreft, He blotted from the Volume of his Breaft; Yet in his Mind his Father's Precepts bears, Who often rung this Leffon in his Ears: "Wou'd you, my Son, to Happiness afpire, "Know, Gold alone can Happiness acquire; "He that has Gold, is pow'rful as a King, "Has Valour, Virtue, Wisdom, ev'ry Thing! "This to obtain, your utmoft Skill beftow; "And if you gain it, be not careful how: "If in the Court, or Camp, you take Delight, "Then dare to flatter there, or here to fight; "Or, fhou'd the Merchant's Life your Fancy "please, "Be bold, and bravely venture on the Seas; "Many by Merchandize have gain'd Re66 nown, "And made the Indies Wealth become their The Youth imbib'd the Precepts of his Tongue, Frequent the Play, the Ball or Masquerade;. Careless of Balls, of Mafquerades, and Plays; Learns all the Rules of Int'reft, Lofs, and Next, from an old Aftronomer, he tries He points the Quadrant at the shining Spheres ; Which guide the Sailor o'er the distant Seas; pares, And carefully infpects both Hemispheres ; B 2 From From Eaft to Weft he views the spacious Pleas'd with the modern World Columbus found: Main. But fee, how Mortals are the Sport of Fate! How oft unhappy, striving to be great! Ere Cynthia twice her monthly Race had run, An Omen of the fatal Storm begun : The murm'ring Wind arifes by Degrees, And rocks the Ship, and fweeps the curling Seas; Now louder, with impetuous Force it roars, And fhoves the fwelling Surges to the Shores; Till rapid Rain, and Flakes of bick'ring Flame, With dreadful Thunder vex th' etherial Frame. Struck with Surprize, the tim'rous Merchant ftands, Nor knows what he forbids, or what commands: Nor fafely back, nor can he forwards go; Long |