_PROFESSIONS--PHYSIC._ Next, to a graver tribe we turn our view, And yield the praise to worth and science due; But this with serious words and sober style, For these are friends with whom we seldom smile: Helpers of men[51] they're call'd, and we confess Theirs the deep study, theirs the lucky guess. We own that numbers join with care and skill A temperate judgment, a devoted will: Men who suppress their feelings, but who feel The painful symptoms they delight to heal; 10 Patient in all their trials, they sustain The starts of passion, the reproach of pain; With hearts affected, but with looks serene, Intent they wait through all the solemn scene; Glad, if a hope should rise from nature's strife, To aid their skill and save the lingering life. But this must virtue's generous effort be, And spring from nobler motives than a fee: To the physicians of the soul, and these, Turn the distress'd for safety, hope, and ease. 20 But as physicians of that nobler kind Have their warm zealots, and their sectaries blind; So among these for knowledge most renown'd, Are dreamers strange, and stubborn bigots found. Some, too, admitted to this honour'd name, Have, without learning, found a way to fame; And some by learning:--young physicians write, To set their merit in the fairest light; With them a treatise is a bait that draws Approving voices; 'tis to gain applause, 30 And to exalt them in the public view, More than a life of worthy toil could do. When 'tis proposed to make the man renown'd, In every age convenient doubts abound; Convenient themes in every period start, Which he may treat with all the pomp of art; Curious conjectures he may always make, And either side of dubious questions take. He may a system broach, or, if he please, Start new opinions of an old disease; 40 Or may some simple in the woodland trace, And be its patron, till it runs its race; As rustic damsels from their woods are won, And live in splendour till their race be run; It weighs not much on what their powers be shown, When all his purpose is to make them known. To show the world what long experience gains, Requires not courage, though it calls for pains; But, at life's outset to inform mankind, Is a bold effort of a valiant mind. 50 The great good man, for noblest cause, displays What many labours taught, and many days; These sound instruction from experience give, The others show us how they mean to live; That they have genius, and they hope mankind Will to its efforts be no longer blind. There are, beside, whom powerful friends advance, Whom fashion favours, person, patrons, chance; And merit sighs to see a fortune made By daring rashness or by dull parade. 60