[Sidenote: It is necessary for order, and the common peace, that external goods be unequal, therefore happiness is not constituted in these.] Order is heav'n's first law; and this confessed, Some are, and must be, greater than the rest, 50 More rich, more wise; but who infers from hence That such are happier, shocks all common sense.[1430] Heav'n to mankind impartial we confess, If all are equal in their happiness: But mutual wants this happiness increase; 55 All nature's diff'rence keeps all nature's peace. Condition, circumstance is not the thing; Bliss is the same in subject or in king, In who obtain defence, or who defend, In him who is, or him who finds a friend: 60 Heav'n breathes through ev'ry member of the whole One common blessing, as one common soul. But fortune's gifts if each alike possessed, And each were equal, must not all contest? If then to all men happiness was meant, 65 God in externals could not place content.[1431] [Sidenote: The balance of human happiness kept equal, notwithstanding externals, by hope and fear.] Fortune her gifts may variously dispose, And these be happy called, unhappy those; But heav'n's just balance equal will appear, While those are placed in hope, and these in fear:[1432] 70 Not present good or ill, the joy or curse, But future views of better, or of worse.[1433] O sons of earth! attempt ye still to rise, By mountains piled on mountains, to the skies?[1434] Heav'n still[1435] with laughter the vain toil surveys,[1436] 75 And buries madmen in the heaps they raise.[1437] [Sidenote: In what the happiness of individuals consists, and that the good man has the advantage even in this world.] Know, all the good that individuals find, Or God and nature[1438] meant to mere mankind,[1439] Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, Lie in three words, health, peace, and competence.[1440] 80 But health consists with temperance alone; And peace! O virtue! peace is all thy own.[1441] The good or bad the gifts of fortune gain; But these less taste them, as they worse obtain.[1442] Say, in pursuit of profit or delight, 85 Who risk the most, that[1443] take wrong means or right? Of vice or virtue, whether blessed or cursed, Which meets contempt, or which compassion first?[1444] Count all th' advantage prosp'rous vice attains, 'Tis but what virtue flies from and disdains: 90 And grant the bad what happiness they would, One they must want,[1445] which is to pass for good.[1446] [Sidenote: That no man is unhappy through virtue.]