The spirit heats, and sets the blood in flame: Such is the freedom which when men approve, They know not what a dangerous thing they love.” George chose the company of men of sense, 180 But could with wit in moderate share dispense; He wish’d in social ease his friends to meet, When still he thought the female accent sweet; Well from the ancient, better from the young, He loved the lispings of the mother tongue. He ate and drank, as much as men who think Of life’s best pleasures, ought to eat or drink; Men purely temperate might have taken less, But still he loved indulgence, not excess; Nor would alone the grants of fortune taste, 190 But shared the wealth he judged it crime to waste; And thus obtained the sure reward of care-- For none can spend like him who learns to spare. Time, thought, and trouble made the man appear-- By nature shrewd--sarcastic and severe; Still, he was one whom those who fully knew Esteem’d and trusted, one correct and true; All on his word with surety might depend, Kind as a man, and faithful as a friend. But him the many [knew] not, knew not cause 200 In their new squire for censure or applause; Ask them, “Who dwelt within that lofty wall?” And they would say, “the gentleman was tall; Look’d old when follow’d, but alert when met, And had some vigour in his movements yet; He stoops, but not as one infirm; and wears Dress that becomes his station and his years.” Such was the man who from the world return’d Nor friend nor foe; he prized it not, nor spurn’d; But came and sat him in his village down, 210 Safe from its smile, and careless of its frown: He, fairly looking into life’s account, Saw frowns and favours were of like amount; And viewing all--his perils, prospects, purse-- He said, “Content! ’tis well it is no worse.” Through ways more rough had fortune RICHARD led, The world he traversed was the book he read; Hence clashing notions and opinions strange Lodged in his mind: all liable to change. By nature generous, open, daring, free, 220 The vice he hated was hypocrisy. Religious notions, in her latter years, His mother gave, admonish’d by her fears; To these he added, as he chanced to read A pious work or learn a christian creed. He heard the preacher by the highway side, The church’s teacher, and the meeting’s guide; And, mixing all their matters in his brain, Distill’d a something he could ill explain; But still it served him for his daily use, 230 And kept his lively passions from abuse; For he believed, and held in reverence high, The truth so dear to man--“not all shall die.” The minor portions of his creed hung loose, For time to shapen and an whole produce;