The tree of knowledge, once in Eden placed, Was easy found, but was forbid the taste: Oh, had our grandsire walk'd without his wife, He first had sought the better plant of life! Now both are lost: yet, wandering in the dark, 100 Physicians, for the tree, have found the bark: They, labouring for relief of human kind, With sharpen'd sight some remedies may find; The apothecary-train is wholly blind, From files a random recipe they take, And many deaths of one prescription make. Garth,[29] generous as his Muse, prescribes and gives; The shopman sells; and by destruction lives: Ungrateful tribe! who, like the viper's brood, From medicine issuing, suck their mother's blood! 110 Let these obey; and let the learn'd prescribe; That men may die, without a double bribe: Let them, but under their superiors, kill; When doctors first have sign'd the bloody bill; He 'scapes the best, who, nature to repair, Draws physic from the fields, in draughts of vital air. You hoard not health, for your own private use; But on the public spend the rich produce. When, often urged, unwilling to be great, Your country calls you from your loved retreat, 120 And sends to senates, charged with common care, Which none more shuns, and none can better bear; Where could they find another form'd so fit, To poise, with solid sense, a sprightly wit? Were these both wanting, as they both abound, Where could so firm integrity be found? Well born, and wealthy, wanting no support, You steer betwixt the country and the court: Nor gratify whate'er the great desire, Nor grudging give what public needs require. 130 Part must be left, a fund when foes invade; And part employ'd to roll the watery trade: Even Canaan's happy land, when worn with toil, Required a sabbath-year to mend the meagre soil. Good senators (and such as you) so give, That kings may be supplied, the people thrive. And he, when want requires, is truly wise, Who slights not foreign aids, nor over-buys; But on our native strength, in time of need, relies. Munster was bought, we boast not the success; 140 Who fights for gain, for greater makes his peace. Our foes, compell'd by need, have peace embraced: The peace both parties want, is like to last: Which, if secure, securely we may trade; Or, not secure, should never have been made. Safe in ourselves, while on ourselves we stand, The sea is ours, and that defends the land. Be then the naval stores the nation's care, New ships to build, and batter'd to repair.