Such was Roscommon, not more learn'd than good, 725 With manners gen'rous as his noble blood; To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known, And ev'ry author's merit, but his own. Such late was Walsh--the Muse's judge and friend, Who justly knew to blame or to commend; 730 To failings mild, but zealous for desert; The clearest head, and the sincerest heart. This humble praise, lamented shade! receive, This praise at least a grateful Muse may give: The Muse, whose early voice you taught to sing, 735 Prescrib'd her heights, and prun'd her tender wing, (Her guide now lost) no more attempts to rise, But in low numbers short excursions tries: Content, if hence th' unlearn'd their wants may view, The learn'd reflect on what before they knew: 740 Careless of censure, nor too fond of fame; Still pleas'd to praise, yet not afraid to blame, Averse alike to flatter, or offend; Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend. * * * * * AN ESSAY ON MAN TO H. ST. JOHN LORD BOLINGBROKE THE DESIGN Having proposed to write some pieces on Human Life and Manners, such as (to use my Lord Bacon's expression) _come home to Men's Business and Bosoms_, I thought it more satisfactory to begin with considering _Man_ in the abstract, his _Nature_ and his _State_; since, to prove any moral duty, to enforce any moral precept, or to examine the perfection or imperfection of any creature whatsoever, it is necessary first to know what _condition_ and _relation_ it is placed in, and what is the proper end and purpose of its _being_. The science of Human Nature is, like all other sciences, reduced to a _few clear points_: There are not _many certain truths_ in this world. It is therefore in the Anatomy of the mind as in that of the Body; more good will accrue to mankind by attending to the large, open, and perceptible parts, than by studying too much such finer nerves and vessels, the conformations and uses of which will for ever escape our observation. The _disputes_ are all upon these last, and, I will venture to say, they have less sharpened the _wits_ than the _hearts_ of men against each other, and have diminished the practice, more than advanced the theory of Morality. If I could flatter myself that this Essay has any merit, it is in steering betwixt the extremes of doctrines seemingly opposite, in passing over terms utterly unintelligible, and in forming a _temperate_ yet not _inconsistent_, and a _short_ yet not _imperfect_ system of Ethics.