Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen;[1226] Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity,[1227] then embrace.[1228] 220 But where th' extreme of vice, was ne'er agreed: Ask where's the North? at York, 'tis on the Tweed; In Scotland, at the Orcades; and there, At Greenland, Zembla, or the Lord knows where. No creature owns it in the first degree, 225 But thinks his neighbour farther gone than he;[1229] Ev'n those who dwell beneath its very zone,[1230] Or never feel the rage, or never own;[1231] What happier natures shrink at with affright, The hard inhabitant contends is right.[1232] 230 [Sidenote: The ends of Providence, and general good, answered in our passions and imperfections. How usefully these are distributed to all orders of men.] Virtuous and vicious ev'ry man must be, Few in th' extreme, but all in the degree:[1233] The rogue and fool by fits is fair and wise; And ev'n the best, by fits, what they despise.[1234] 'Tis but by parts we follow good or ill; 235 For, vice or virtue, self directs it still;[1235] Each individual seeks a sev'ral goal; But heav'n's great view is one, and that the whole. That counterworks each folly and caprice; That disappoints th' effect of ev'ry vice;[1236] 240 That, happy frailties to all ranks applied,[1237] Shame to the virgin,[1238] to the matron pride, Fear to the statesman, rashness to the chief, To kings presumption, and to crowds belief: That virtue's ends from vanity can raise, 245 Which seeks no interest, no reward but praise;[1239] And build[1240] on wants, and on defects of mind, The joy, the peace, the glory of mankind. [Sidenote: How useful these are to society in general:] Heav'n forming each on other to depend, A master, or a servant, or a friend, 250 Bids each on other for assistance call, Till one man's weakness grows the strength of all. Wants, frailties, passions, closer still ally The common int'rest, or endear the tie. To these we owe true friendship, love sincere, 255 Each home-felt joy that life inherits here;[1241] Yet from the same we learn, in its decline, Those joys, those loves, those int'rests to resign:[1242] Taught half by reason, half by mere decay, To welcome death, and calmly pass away. 260 [Sidenote: And to individuals in particular in every state:]