How oft, with passion, Virtue points her charms! Then shines the hero, then the patriot warms. Peleus' great son, or Brutus, who had known, Had Lucrece been a whore, or Helen none! But virtues opposite to make agree, That, Reason! is thy task; and worthy thee. Hard task, cries Bibulus, and reason weak: Make it a point, dear Marquess! or a pique. Once, for a whim, persuade yourself to pay A debt to reason, like a debt at play. For right or wrong have mortals suffer'd more? B---- for his prince, or ---- for his whore? Whose self-denials nature most control? His, who would save a sixpence, or his soul? Web for his health, a Chartreux for his sin, Contend they not which soonest shall grow thin? What we resolve, we can: but here's the fault, We ne'er resolve to do the thing we ought. After VER. 220, in the first edition, followed these-- A cheat! a whore! who starts not at the name, In all the Inns of Court or Drury Lane? After VER. 226, in the MS.-- The colonel swears the agent is a dog, The scrivener vows th' attorney is a rogue. Against the thief th' attorney loud inveighs, For whose ten pound the county twenty pays. The thief damns judges, and the knaves of state; And dying, mourns small villains hang'd by great. EPISTLE III. ARGUMENT. OF THE NATURE AND STATE OF MAN WITH RESPECT TO SOCIETY. I. The whole universe one system of society, ver. 7, &c. Nothing made wholly for itself, nor yet wholly for another, ver. 27. The happiness of animals mutual, ver. 49. II. Reason or instinct operate alike to the good of each individual, ver. 79. Reason or instinct operate also to society, in all animals, ver. 109. III. How far society carried by instinct, ver. 115. How much farther by reason, ver. 128. IV. Of that which is called the state of nature, 144. Reason instructed by instinct in the invention of arts, ver. 166, and in the forms of society, ver. 176. V. Origin of political societies, ver. 196. Origin of monarchy, ver. 207. Patriarchal government, ver. 212. VI. Origin of true religion and government, from the same principle--of love, ver. 231, &c. Origin of superstition and tyranny, from the same principle--of fear, ver. 237, &c. The influence of self-love operating to the social and public good, ver. 266. Restoration of true religion and government on their first principle, ver. 285. Mixed government, ver. 288. Various forms of each, and the true end of all, ver. 300, &c. Here then we rest: 'The Universal Cause Acts to one end, but acts by various laws.' In all the madness of superfluous health, The trim of pride, the impudence of wealth, Let this great truth be present night and day; But most be present, if we preach or pray.