85 Wits, just like Fools, at war about a name, 95 III. Modes of Self-love the Paffions we may call : 'Tis real good, or feeming, moves them all : But fince not ev'ry good we can divide, And Reason bids us for our own provide; Paffions, tho' selfish, if their means be fair, Lift under Reason, and deserve her care; Those, that imparted, court a nobler aim, Exalt their kind, and take some Virtue's name. 100 In lazy Apathy let Stoics boaft Their Virtue fix'd; 'tis fix'd as in a froft; But strength of mind is Exercise, not Rest: VARIATIONS. After 86. in the MS. Of good and evil Gods what frighted Fools, The rifing tempest puts in act the foul, 1 105 On life's vast ocean diversely we fail, 109 Nor God alone in the still calm we find, VARIATIONS. After VER. 108. in the MS. A tedious Voyage! where how useless lies After VER. 112. in the MS. The soft reward the virtuous, or invite; NOTES. VER. 109. Nor God alone, ❘ author is here only shewing &c.] These words are only a simple affirmation in the poetic dress of a fimilitude, to this purpose: Good is not only produced by the subdual of the Passions, but by the turbulent exercise of them. A truth conveyed under the most sublime imagery that poetry could conceive or paint. For the the providential issue of the Passions, and how, by God's gracious disposition, they are turned away from their natural byas, to promote the happiness of Mankind. As to the method in which they are to be treated by Man, in whom they are found, all that he contends for, in favour of them, is 115 These 'tis enough to temper and employ; Pleasures are ever in our hands or eyes ; 120 Present to grafp, and future still to find, 125 The whole employ of body and of mind. On diff'rent fenfes diff'rent objects strike; Hence diff'rent Paffions more or less inflame, As ftrong or weak, the organs of the frame; And hence one MASTER PASSION in the breast, Like Aaron's ferpent, swallows up the reft. 130 NOTES. only this, that they should | gions, foolishly attempted. not be quite rooted up and The action of the stronger to fufpend, For the rest, he constantly repeats this advice, As Man, perhaps, the moment of his breath, Receives the lurking principle of death; The young disease, that must subdue at length, 135 Grows with his growth, and strengthens with his strength: 140 So, cast and mingled with his very frame, 145 Nature its mother, Habit is its nurse; Wit, Spirit, Faculties, but make it worfe; Reafon itself but gives it edge and pow'r; As Heav'n's blest beam turns vinegar more fowr; NOTES. VER. 133. As Man per- | 1. vii. N. H. This Antipater was in the times of Craffus, and is celebrated for the quickness of his parts by Cicero. haps, &c.] Antipater Sidonius Poëta omnibus annis uno die natali tantum corripiebatur febre, et eo confumptus eft fatis longa senecta. Plin. We, wretched subjects tho' to lawful sway, NOTES. 150 155 160 VER. 149. We, wretched | is this then, but an intimation that we ought to seek for a cure in that religion, which only dares profess to give it? fubjects, &c.] St Paul himself did not chuse to employ other arguments, when difposed to give us the highest idea of the usefulness of VER. 163. 'Tis her's to Chriftianity. (Rom. vii.) But, rectify, &c.] The meaning it may be, the poet finds a of this precept is, That as remedy in Natural Religion. the ruling Passion is imFar from it. He here leaves, planted by Nature, it is reason unrelieved. What | Reason's office to regulate, |