EASURES and PURSUITS

of

HUMAN LIFE

by Alex! Pope Efq?

EDWIN and ANGELINA
by Oliver Goldsmith.
The TRAVELLER, ova prospect

or

EVENING CONTEMPLATIONS in a College,

imitated from GRAYS ELEGY, with notes and Illustrations by the Author of SOLITARY WALKS &c.

I pit me down a pensive hour to spend.

LONDON.

Printed for J.Roach Russell Court Drury Lane 1793.
Price Six pence.

PLEASURES AND PURSUITS

O F

HUMAN

LIFE.

BY ALEXANDER POPE, Esq.

Life is but a fhadow, that appeareth for a little while, and then vanifheth away.

JOB viii. 9.

P

Still feems to vary, yet is ftill the fame;
Amusement's all its utmoft Skill can boast,
By Ufe it leffens, and in thought is loft.
The Youth that riots and the Age that hoards,
Folly that facrifices Things to Words;
Pride, Wit, and Beauty in one Tafle agree,
'Tis fenfual, or 'tis mental Luxury.

Sad State of Nature, doom'd to fruitless Pain,
Something to wifh and want, but never gain:
Reftlefs we live, and difappointed die,

Unhappy, tho' we know not how, nor why*.

* Mankind in general are purfuing what they esteem happiness in different ways; not confidering true happiness

is,

Reafon, perhaps may lend her gen'rous aid ;
Reafon, which never yet her Truft betray'd:
Let her direct us in the doubtful Strife,

Let her conduct us thro' the Maze of Lifet.
Is Human Reafon then from weakness free?
Partakes fhe not of our Infirmity ?

Can fhe apply with never-failing Art,

The healing Balfam to the wounded Part ?
Correct thofe Errors which the Paffions caufe,
And teach the Will to follow Wifdom's Laws?
Alas! Experience but too plainly fhows,
That Man can act against the Truths he knows‡:
By Cuftoms led, or by Allurements won,
Difcern that Evil, which he cannot hun§.

Whate'er

is, and ever will be unattainable in the prefent imperfect ftate; therefore it is no wonder they meet with difappointment in the end.

+ Reafon is but a blind guide without the aid of divine revelation; however it is better to follow reafon than paffion, which is the guide of the major part of mankind.

I know what's right and I approve it too,

Condemn what's wrong, and yet what's wrong purfue: Thefe lines are the experience of many thoufands in the world.

Men in general are not inclin'd to, and therefore fay by way of excufing themfelves, that they cannot fhun evil; but no man is oblig'd to commit fin whether he will or no.

Whate'er we do, the Motive's much the fame,
'Tis Impulfe governs nnder Reafon's Name;
Each eagerly fome fav'rite End purfues,
And diff'rent Tempers furnifh diff'rent Views.

Is it for Fear of Wrong, or Love of Right,
That Statesmen labour, or that Warriors fight?
T'enrich his Country, does the Sailor brave
The cruel Pirate, and the threat'ning Wave?
In Search of Truth, unwearied Sages try,
By certain Rules, to fix Uncertainty ;
No! 'tis Defire and Hope that drive them on :
Thus greatest Things for meaneft Ends are done.

Self-Love, howe'er disguif'd, misunderstood,
Howe'er mifplac'd, is ftill the fov'reign Good:
Virtue and Wisdom but the vain pretence,
Thefe may direct, but Paffions influence.
What feeble Checks are all thofe ftudied Rules,
Unpractis'd Leffons of the ufelefs Schools ?
Say, can thy Art, oppos'd to Nature's force,
Obftruct her Motions, or fufpend her course?
Go, change in Africa their fable Hue,

Or make our Europe bring her Negroes too;
Roll back the Tides, forbid the Streams to flow,
Nor let the Earth returning Scafons know.