Taught half by reason, half by mere decay,
To welcome death, and calmly pass away.
Whate'er the passion, knowledge, fame, or pelf.
Not one will change his neighbour with himself.
The learn'd is happy nature to explore,
The fool is happy that he knows no more;
The rich is happy in the plenty giv'n,

The poor contents him with the care of heav'n.

See the blind beggar dance, the cripple sing,

The sot a hero, lunatic a king;

The starving chemist in his golden views
Supremely blest, the poet in his muse.

See some strange comfort ev'ry state attend,
And pride bestow'd on all, a common friend:
See some fit passion ev'ry age supply,
Hope travels thro', nor quits us when we die.

Behold the child, by nature's kindly law,

Pleas'd with a rattle, tickled with a straw:
Some livelier plaything gives his youth delight,

A little louder, but as empty quite:
Scarfs, garters, gold, amuse his riper stage,
And beads and pray'r-books are the toys of age:
Pleas'd with this bauble still, as that before;
"Till tir'd he sleeps, and life's poor play is o'er.
Mean-while opinion gilds with varying rays
Those painted clouds that beautify our days;
Each want of happiness by hope supply'd,
And each vacuity of sense by pride:
These build as fast as knowledge can destroy;
In folly's cup still laughs the bubble, joy;
One prospect lost, another still we gain;
And not a vanity is given in vain:

Ev'n mean self-love becomes, by force divine,

The scale to measure others wants by thine.

See! and confess, one comfort still must rise; 'Tis this, tho' man's a fool, yet God is wise.

EPISTLE III.

ARGUMENT.

Of the Nature and State of Man with respect to Society. The whole universe one system of society....Nothing made wholly for itself, nor yet wholly for another.... The happiness of animals mutual.... Reason or instinct operates alike to the good of each individual.... Reason or instinct operates also to society in all animals.... How far society is carried by instinct.... How much farther by reason.... Of that which is called the state of nature.... Reason instructed by instinct in the invention of arts, and in the forms of society.... Origin of political societies....Origin of monarchy....Patriarchal government....Origin of true religion and government, from the same principle of love.... Origin of superstition and tyranny, from the same principle of fear.... The influence of self-love operating to the social and public good.... Restoration of true religion and government on their first principle.... Mixed government.... Various forms of each, and the true

end of all.

HERE then we rest:

"the Universal Cause

"Acts to one end, but acts by various laws."
In all the madness of superfluous health,
The trim of pride, the impudence of wealth,
Let this great truth be present night and day:
But most be present, if we preach or pray.

Look round our world, behold the chain of love

Combining all below and all above.

See plastic Nature working to this end,

The single atoms each to other tend,

Attract, attracted to, the next in place
Form'd and impell'd its neighbour to embrace,

See matter next, with various life endu'd,

Press to one center still, the gen'ral good.

See dying vegetables life sustain,

See life dissolving vegetate again:

All forms that perish other forms supply,

(By turns we catch the vital breath and die)

Like bubbles on the sea of matter borne,

They rise, they break, and to that sea return.

Nothing is foreign; parts relate to whole;

One all-extending, all-preserving soul