Nunquam parvo contenta peracta Et quæsitorum terrâ pelagoque ciborum Ambitiosa fames et lautæ gloria mensæ. Et Luxus, populator Opum, [cui] semper adhærens, Infelix humili gressu comitatur Egestas. _Claudian. in Rufinum_ [Lib. I. vv. 35-6]. Behold what blessing[s] wealth to life can lend! _Pope_ [Moral Essays, Ep. III. v. 297]. Blaney, a wealthy Heir, dissipated, and reduced to Poverty--His Fortune restored by Marriage: again consumed--His Manner of living in the West Indies--Recalled to a larger Inheritance--His more refined and expensive Luxuries--His Method of quieting Conscience--Death of his Wife--Again become poor--His Method of supporting Existence--His Ideas of Religion--His Habits and Connexions when old--Admitted into the Alms-House. LETTER XIV. _LIFE OF BLANEY._ Observe that tall pale veteran! what a look Of shame and guilt! who cannot read that book? Misery and mirth are blended in his face, Much innate vileness and some outward grace; There wishes strong and stronger griefs are seen, Looks ever changed, and never one serene: Show not that manner, and these features all, The serpent's cunning and the sinner's fall? Hark to that laughter!--'tis the way he takes To force applause for each vile jest he makes; 10 Such is yon man, by partial favour sent To these calm seats to ponder and repent. Blaney, a wealthy heir at twenty-one, At twenty-five was ruin'd and undone: These years with grievous crimes we need not load, He found his ruin in the common road;-- Gamed without skill, without inquiry bought, Lent without love, and borrowed without thought. But, gay and handsome, he had soon the dower Of a kind wealthy widow in his power; 20 Then he aspired to loftier flights of vice, To singing harlots of enormous price; He took a jockey in his gig to buy A horse, so valued that a duke was shy; To gain the plaudits of the knowing few, Gamblers and grooms, what would not Blaney do? His dearest friend, at that improving age, Was Hounslow Dick, who drove the western stage. Cruel he was not.--If he left his wife, He left her to her own pursuits in life; 30 Deaf to reports, to all expenses blind; Profuse, not just, and careless, but not kind. Yet, thus assisted, ten long winters pass'd In wasting guineas ere he saw his last; Then he began to reason, and to feel He could not dig, nor had he learn'd to steal; And should he beg as long as he might live, He justly fear'd that nobody would give. But he could charge a pistol, and, at will, All that was mortal by a bullet kill: 40 And he was taught, by those whom he would call Man's surest guides--that he was mortal all.