Stript of their Mask, their Cares and Troubles known, Are Visions far less happy than thy own: Go on! and, while the Sons of Care complain, Be wisely gay and innocently vain; While serious Souls are by their Fears undone, Blow sportive Bladders in the beamy Sun, And call them Worlds!, and bid the greatest show More radiant Colours in their World below: Then, as they break, the Slaves of Care reprove, And tell them, Such are all the Toys they love.” [Illustration: text decoration] THE NEWSPAPER: A Poem. ARGUMENT. This not a Time favourable to Poetical Composition: and why.--Newspapers enemies to Literature, and their general Influence:--their Numbers.--The Sunday Monitor.--Their general Character.--Their Effect upon Individuals;--upon Society,--in the Country.--The Village-Freeholder.--What kind of Composition a Newspaper is; and the Amusement it affords.--Of what Parts it is chiefly composed.--Articles of Intelligence:--Advertisements:--The Stage:--Quacks:--Puffing.--The Correspondents to a Newspaper, Political and Poetical:--Advice to the latter.--Conclusion. THE NEWSPAPER. E quibus, hi vacuas implent sermonibus aures, Hi narrata ferunt aliò; mensuráque ficti Crescit, et auditis aliquid novus adjicit auctor: Illìc credulitas, illìc temerarius error, Vanáque lætitia est, consternatique timores, Seditióque repens, dubióque auctore susurri. OVID. Metamorph. Lib. xii.