How to live happiest; how avoid the pains, 220 The disappointments, and disgusts of those Who would in pleasure all their hours employ; The precepts here of a divine old man I could recite. Tho’ old, he still retain’d His manly sense, and energy of mind. 225 Virtuous and wise he was, but not severe; He still remember’d that he once was young; His easy presence check’d no decent joy. Him even the dissolute admir’d; for he A graceful looseness when he pleas’d put on, 230 And laughing cou’d instruct. Much had he read, Much more had seen; he studied from the life, And in th’ original perus’d mankind. Vers’d in the woes and vanities of life, He pitied man: And much he pitied those 235 Whom falsely-smiling fate has curs’d with means To dissipate their days in quest of joy. Our aim is Happiness; ’tis yours, ’tis mine, He said, ’tis the pursuit of all that live; Yet few attain it, if ’twas e’er attain’d. 240 But they the widest wander from the mark, Who thro’ the flow’ry paths of saunt’ring Joy Seek this coy Goddess; that from stage to stage Invites us still, but shifts as we pursue. For, not to name the pains that pleasure brings 245 To counterpoise itself, relentless Fate Forbids that we thro’ gay voluptuous wilds Should ever roam: And were the Fates more kind Our narrow luxuries would soon be stale. Were these exhaustless, Nature would grow sick, 250 And, cloy’d with pleasure, squeamishly complain That all was vanity, and life a dream. Let nature rest: Be busy for yourself, And for your friend; be busy even in vain Rather than teize her sated appetites. 255 Who never fasts no banquet e’er enjoys; Who never toils or watches never sleeps. Let nature rest: And when the taste of joy Grows keen, indulge; but shun satiety.