The muse in a moral humour: being a collection of tales, fables, pastorals, &c. by several hands

Mufe in a Moral Humour.

安

THE

AVARO and AM AND a.
A TALE.

By Mr. STEPHEN DUCK.

HAT Ills from Want of Education
flow,

From Avarice what cruel Scenes of
Woe,

I mean to fing; except the tuneful Maid
Neglects my Numbers, and refuse her Aid.
Say, Goddefs, firft, what made the Youth
explore

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 faithless Youth to fell A Friend, whofe only Crime was loving well?

Now had Avaro twenty Winters pass'd, His blooming Features ev'ry Beauty grac'd; In filver Rings, his loosely flowing Hair Hung o'er his Shoulders with a comely Air; Robust his Limbs, and daring was his Soul, And Vigour crown'd the well-proportion'd Whole:

His graceful Charms the Ladies oft survey'd,
And oft their Eyes an am'rous Signal made;
But never cou'd the tender Paffion move,
The ftubborn Youth was ftill averfe to Love;
Yet, tho' his Breaft was Proof to Cupid's Dart,
A more ignoble God enflav'd his Heart.

No Mysteries of Faith difturb'd his Head; For Mysteries of Faith he feldom 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 aspire, "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 cr own.

The Youth imbib'd the Precepts of his Tongue, Neglecting ev'ry Law of Right and Wrong; Taught by his Sire to court destructive Gain, He burns to try his Fortune on the Main.

While other Youths, by Wit or Pleasure fway'd,

Frequent the Play, the Ball or Masquerade ;, Avaro, ftudious, in his Chamber stays, Careless of Balls, of Mafquerades, and Plays; There adds, fubftracts, and, with unweary'd

Pain,

Learns all the Rules of Int'reft, Lofs, and Gain.

Next, from an old Aftronomer, he tries To learn the Planets Journey thro' the Skies; With him, at Night, when Heav'n ferene appears,

He points the Quadrant at the shining Spheres ;
The Hyades, and frozen Pole furveys,
Which guide the Sailor o'er the diftant Seas;
Then Maps and Models of our Globe pre-
pares,

And carefully infpects both Hemispheres;
B 2

From

From Eaft to Weft he views the spacious Round,

Pleas'd with the modern World Columbus found: In Hope elate, the Youth impatient stands, And seems to grafp both Indies in his Hands. This fees the Sire, and haftily provides

A Veffel, proof against the Winds and Tides.
The Youth embarks, the foft propitious Gales/
Arife, and foon expand the fwelling Sails;
The Ship glides swiftly o'er the liquid Plain,
And Neptune fmiles, and courts him on the
Main.

But fee, how Mortals are the Sport of Fate! How oft unhappy, ftriving 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 sweeps the curling Seas;

Now louder, with impetuous Force it roars, And shoves 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;
But trembling waits, and fears the fatal Blow.

Long

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The muse in a moral humour: being a collection of tales, fables, pastorals ...