While thus he thought, still waiting for the day, When he should dare to blow his brains away, A place for him a kind relation found, Where England's monarch ruled, but far from English ground; He gave employ that might for bread suffice, Correct his habits and restrain his vice. Here Blaney tried (what such man's miseries teach) To find what pleasures were within his reach; 50 These he enjoy'd, though not in just the style He once possess'd them in his native isle; Congenial souls he found in every place, Vice in all soils, and charms in every race: His lady took the same amusing way, And laugh'd at Time till he had turn'd them grey: At length for England once again they steer'd, By ancient views and new designs endear'd; His kindred died, and Blaney now became An heir to one who never heard his name. 60 What could he now?--The man had tried before The joys of youth, and they were joys no more; To vicious pleasure he was still inclined, But vice must now be season'd and refined; _Then_ as a swine he would on pleasure seize, Now common pleasures had no power to please: Beauty alone has for the vulgar charms, He wanted beauty trembling with alarms; His was no more a youthful dream of joy, The wretch desired to ruin and destroy; 70 He bought indulgence with a boundless price, Most pleased when decency bow'd down to vice, When a fair dame her husband's honour sold, And a frail Countess play'd for Blaney's gold. "But did not conscience in her anger rise?" Yes! and he learn'd her terrors to despise; When stung by thought, to soothing books he fled, And grew composed and hardened as he read; Tales of Voltaire, and essays gay and slight, Pleased him and shone with their phosphoric light; 80 Which, though it rose from objects vile and base, Where'er it came threw splendour on the place, And was that light which the deluded youth, And this grey sinner, deem'd the light of truth. He different works for different cause admired-- Some fix'd his judgment, some his passions fired; To cheer the mind and raise a dormant flame, } He had the books, decreed to lasting shame, } Which those who read are careful not to name: } These won to vicious act the yielding heart, 90 And then the cooler reasoners soothed the smart. He heard of Blount, and Mandeville, and Chubb, How they the doctors of their day would drub; How Hume had dwelt on miracles so well, That none would now believe a miracle; And though he cared not works so grave to read, He caught their faith and sign'd the sinner's creed. Thus was he pleased to join the laughing side; Nor ceased the laughter when his lady died. Yet was he kind and careful of her fame, 100