Nor always these; he sometimes saved his cash, By interlinear days of frugal hash. Wine hadst thou seldom; wilt thou be so vain As to decide on claret or champagne? Dost thou from me derive this taste sublime, Who order port the dozen at a time; 360 When (every glass held precious in our eyes) We judged the value by the bottle’s size? Then, never merit for thy praise assume, Its worth well knows each servant in the room. “Hard, boy, thy task, to steer thy way among That servile, supple, shrewd, insidious throng; Who look upon thee as of doubtful race, An interloper, one who wants a place: Freedom with these let thy free soul condemn, Nor with thy heart’s concerns associate them. 370 “Of all be cautious--but be most afraid Of the pale charms that grace my lady’s maid; Of those sweet dimples, of that fraudful eye, } The frequent glance, design’d for thee to spy; } The soft bewitching look, the fond bewailing sigh. } Let others frown and envy; she the while (Insidious syren!) will demurely smile; And, for her gentle purpose, every day Inquire thy wants, and meet thee in thy way; She has her blandishments, and, though so weak, 380 Her person pleases, and her actions speak. At first her folly may her aim defeat; But kindness shown at length will kindness meet. Have some offended? them will she disdain, And, for thy sake, contempt and pity feign; She hates the vulgar, she admires to look On woods and groves, and dotes upon a book; Let her once see thee on her features dwell, And hear one sigh--then, liberty, farewell. “But, John, remember, we cannot maintain 390 A poor, proud girl, extravagant and vain. “Doubt much of friendship: shouldst thou find a friend Pleased to advise thee, anxious to commend; Should he the praises he has heard report, And confidence (in thee confiding) court; Much of neglectful patrons should he say, And then exclaim--‘How long must merit stay;’ Then show how high thy modest hopes may stretch, And point to stations far beyond thy reach: Let such designer, by thy conduct, see 400 (Civil and cool) he makes no dupe of thee; And he will quit thee, as a man too wise For him to ruin first, and then despise. “Such are thy dangers;--yet, if thou canst steer Past all the perils, all the quicksands clear, Then may’st thou profit; but if storms prevail, If foes beset thee, if thy spirits fail-- No more of winds or waters be the sport, But in thy father’s mansion find a port.” Our poet read.--“It is, in truth,” said he, 410 “Correct in part, but what is _this_ to me? I love a foolish Abigail! in base And sordid office! fear not such disgrace: Am I so blind?”--“Or thou wouldst surely see