Behold the child, by Nature's kindly law, Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw: Some livelier plaything gives his youth delight, A little louder, but as empty quite: Scarfs, garters, gold, amuse his riper stage, And beads and prayer-books are the toys of age: 280 Pleased with this bauble still, as that before; Till, tired, he sleeps, and life's poor play is o'er. Meanwhile opinion gilds with varying rays Those painted clouds that beautify our days; Each want of happiness by hope supplied, And each vacuity of sense by pride: These build as fast as knowledge can destroy; In Folly's cup still laughs the bubble, joy; One prospect lost, another still we gain; And not a vanity is given in vain; 290 Even mean self-love becomes, by force divine, The scale to measure others' wants by thine. See! and confess, one comfort still must rise, 'Tis this, Though Man's a fool, yet God is wise. * * * * * VARIATIONS. VER. 2, first edition-- The only science of mankind is Man. After VER. 18, in the MS.-- For more perfection than this state can bear, In vain we sigh, 'Heaven made us as we are.' As wisely, sure, a modest ape might aim To be like Man, whose faculties and frame He sees, he feels, as you or I to be An angel thing we neither know nor see. Observe how near he edges on our race; What human tricks! how risible of face! 'It must be so--why else have I the sense Of more than monkey charms and excellence? Why else to walk on two so oft essay'd? And why this ardent longing for a maid?' So pug might plead, and call his gods unkind, Till set on end and married to his mind. Go, reasoning thing! assume the doctor's chair, As Plato deep, as Seneca severe: Fix moral fitness, and to God give rule, Then drop into thyself, &c. VER. 21, edition fourth and fifth-- Show by what rules the wandering planets stray, Correct old Time, and teach the sun his way. VER. 35, first edition-- Could He, who taught each planet where to roll, Describe or fix one movement of the soul? Who mark'd their points to rise or to descend, Explain his own beginning or his end? After VER. 86, in the MS.-- Of good and evil gods what frighted fools, Of good and evil reason puzzled schools, Deceived, deceiving, taught, &c. After VER. 108, in the MS.-- A tedious voyage! where how useless lies The compass, if no powerful gusts arise? After VER. 112, in the MS.-- The soft reward the virtuous, or invite; The fierce, the vicious punish or affright. After VER. 194, in the MS.--