They strive with their own hearts, and keep them down, In complaisance to all the fools in town. O how they tremble at the name of prude! And die with shame at thought of being good! For, what will Artimis, the rich and gay, What will the wits, that is, the coxcombs, say? They Heaven defy, to earth's vile dregs a slave; Through cowardice, most execrably brave. With our own judgments durst we to comply, In virtue should we live, in glory die. Rise then, my Muse, In honest fury rise; They dread a satire who defy the skies. Atheists are few: most nymphs a Godhead own; And nothing but his attributes dethrone. From atheists far, they steadfastly believe God is, and is almighty--to forgive, His other excellence they'll not dispute; But mercy, sure, is his chief attribute. Shall pleasures of a short duration chain A lady's soul in everlasting pain? Will the great Author us poor worms destroy, For now and then a sip of transient joy? No; he's forever in a smiling mood; He's like themselves; or how could he be good? And they blaspheme, who blacker schemes suppose. Devoutly, thus, Jehovah they depose, The pure! the just! and set up, in his stead, A deity that's perfectly well bred. 'Dear Tillotson! be sure the best of men; Nor thought he more than thought great Origen. Though once upon a time he misbehaved, Poor Satan! doubtless, he'll at length be saved. Let priests do something for their one in ten; It is their trade; so far they're honest men. Let them cant on, since they have got the knack, And dress their notions, like themselves, in black; Fright us, with terrors of a world unknown, From joys of this, to keep them all their own. Of earth's fair fruits, indeed, they claim a fee; But then they leave our untithed virtue free. Virtue's a pretty thing to make a show: Did ever mortal write like Rochefoucauld? Thus pleads the Devil's fair apologist, And, pleading, safely enters on his list. NIGHT-THOUGHTS [MAN'S MARVELLOUS NATURE]