That so much beauty, join’d with speech so kind, Raised strong emotions in the poet’s mind; Till reason fail’d his bosom to defend 180 From the sweet power of this enchanting friend.-- Rash boy! what hope thy frantic mind invades? What love confuses, and what pride persuades? Awake to truth! shouldst thou deluded feed On hopes so groundless, thou art mad indeed. What say’st thou, wise-one? “that all-powerful love Can fortune’s strong impediments remove; Nor is it strange that worth should wed to worth, The pride of genius with the pride of birth.” While thou art dreaming thus, the beauty spies 190 Love in thy tremor, passion in thine eyes; And, with th’ amusement pleased, of conquest vain, She seeks her pleasure, careless of thy pain; She gives thee praise to humble and confound, Smiles to ensnare, and flatters thee to wound. Why has she said that in the lowest state The noble mind insures a noble fate? And why thy daring mind to glory call? That thou may’st dare and suffer, soar and fall. Beauties are tyrants, and if they can reign, 200 They have no feeling for their subject’s pain; Their victim’s anguish gives their charms applause, And their chief glory is the woe they cause. Something of this was felt, in spite of love, Which hope, in spite of reason, would remove. Thus lived our youth, with conversation, books, And Lady Emma’s soul-subduing looks; Lost in delight, astonish’d at his lot, } All prudence banish’d, all advice forgot-- } Hopes, fears, and every thought, were fix’d upon the spot.} 210 ’Twas autumn yet, and many a day must frown On Brandon-Hall, ere went my lord to town; Meantime the father, who had heard his boy Lived in a round of luxury and joy, And, justly thinking that the youth was one Who, meeting danger, was unskill’d to shun; Knowing his temper, virtue, spirit, zeal, How prone to hope and trust, believe and feel: These on the parent’s soul their weight impress’d, And thus he wrote the counsels of his breast. 220 “John, thou’rt a genius; thou hast some pretence, I think, to wit, but hast thou sterling sense? That which, like gold, may through the world go forth, And always pass for what ’tis truly worth? Whereas this genius, like a bill, must take Only the value our opinions make. “Men famed for wit, of dangerous talents vain, Treat those of common parts with proud disdain; The powers that wisdom would, improving, hide, They blaze abroad with inconsid’rate pride; 230 While yet but mere probationers for fame, They seize the honour they should then disclaim: Honour so hurried to the light must fade; The lasting laurels flourish in the shade. “Genius is jealous; I have heard of some