“Here wealth its prowess to the eye display’d, And here advanced the seasons, there delay’d; Bid the due heat each growing sweet refine, } Made the sun’s light with grosser fire combine, } And to the Tropic gave the vigour of the Line. } “Yet, in the master of this wealth behold } A light vain coxcomb taken from his gold, } Whose busy brain was weak, whose boasting } heart was cold. } 280 O! how he talk’d to that believing town, That he would give it riches and renown; Cause a canal where treasures were to swim, And they should owe their opulence to him! In fact, of riches he insured a crop, So they would give him but a seed to drop. As used the alchymist his boasts to make, ‘I give you millions for the mite I take:’ The mite they never could again behold, The millions all were Eldorado gold. 290 “By this professing man the country round Was search’d to see where money could be found. “The thriven farmer, who had lived to spare, Became an object of especial care; He took the frugal tradesman by the hand, And wish’d him joy of what he might command; And the industrious servant, who had laid His saving by, it was his joy to aid; Large talk, and hints of some productive plan Half named, won all his hearers to a man; 300 Uncertain projects drew them wondering on, And avarice listen’d till distrust was gone. But when to these dear girls he found his way, All easy, artless, innocent were they; When he compelled his foolish wife to be At once so great, so humble, and so free; Whom others sought, nor always with success! But they were both her pride and happiness; And she esteem’d them, but attended still To the vile purpose of her husband’s will; 310 And, when she fix’d his snares about their mind, Respected those whom she essay’d to blind; Nay with esteem she some compassion gave To the fair victims whom she would not save. “The Banker’s wealth and kindness were her themes, His generous plans, his patriotic schemes; What he had done for some, a favourite few, What for his favourites still he meant to do; Not that he always listen’d--which was hard-- To her, when speaking of her great regard 320 For certain friends--‘but you, as I may say, Are his own choice--I am not jealous--nay!’ “Then came the man himself, and came with speed, As just from business of importance freed; Or just escaping, came with looks of fire, As if he’d just attain’d his full desire; As if Prosperity and he for life Were wed, and he was showing off his wife; Pleased to display his influence, and to prove Himself the object of her partial love; 330 Perhaps with this was join’d the latent fear,