The Vision fled, the happy Mother rose, Kiss’d the fair Infant, smil’d at all her Foes, And FLATTERY made her Name:--Her Reign began, Her own dear Sex she rul’d, then vanquish’d Man; A smiling Friend, to every Class, she spoke, Assum’d their Manners and their Habits took; Her, for her humble Mien, the Modest lov’d; Her cheerful Looks, the Light and Gay approv’d; The Just beheld her, firm; the Valiant, brave; Her Mirth the Free, her Silence pleas’d the Grave; Zeal heard her Voice, and as he preach’d aloud, Well-pleas’d he caught her Whispers from the Crowd, (Those Whispers soothing-sweet to every Ear, Which some refuse to pay, but none to hear): Shame fled her Presence; at her gentle Strain, Care softly smil’d and Guilt forgot its Pain; The Wretched thought, the Happy found her true, The Learn’d confess’d, that she their Merits knew; The Rich--could they a constant Friend condemn? The Poor believ’d--for who should flatter them? Thus on her Name, while all Disgrace attend, In every Creature she beholds a Friend. [Illustration: text decoration] REFLECTIONS UPON THE SUBJECT-- _Quid juvat errores, mersâ jam puppe, fateri? Quid lacrymæ delicta juvant commissa secutæ?_ CLAUDIAN. in Eutropium, lib. ii. lin. 7. What avails it when shipwreck’d, that error appears? Are the crimes we commit, wash’d away by our tears? Reflections. “Quid juvat errores, mersâ jam puppe, fateri? “Quid lacrymæ delicta juvant commissa secutæ?” CLAUDIAN. in Eutrop. lib. ii. lin. 7. When all the fiercer Passions cease, (The Glory and Disgrace of Youth,) When the deluded Soul in peace, Can listen to the Voice of Truth; When we are taught in whom to trust, And how to spare, to spend, to give; (Our Prudence kind, our Pity just,) ’Tis then we rightly learn to live. Its Weakness when the Body feels, Nor Danger in Contempt defies; To Reason, when Desire appeals, When on Experience, Hope relies; When every passing Hour we prize, Nor rashly on our Follies spend; But use it as it quickly flies, With sober Aim, to serious End: When Prudence bounds our utmost Views, And bids us Wrath and Wrong forgive; When we can calmly gain or lose, ’Tis then we rightly learn to live. Yet thus when we our Way discern, And can upon our Care depend, To travel safely, when we learn, Behold! we’re near our Journey’s End. We’ve trod the Maze of Error round, Long wand’ring in the winding Glade; And now the Torch of Truth is found, It only shews us where we stray’d: Light for ourselves, what is it worth When we no more our Way can choose? For others when we hold it forth, They in their pride, the Boon refuse.