What's fame? a fancied life in others' breath,[1511] A thing beyond us, ev'n before our death.[1512] Just what you hear, you have, and what's unknown The same, my lord,[1513] if Tully's, or your own. 240 All that we feel of it begins and ends In the small circle of our foes or friends;[1514] To all beside as much an empty shade[1515] An Eugene living,[1516] as a Cæsar dead; Alike, or when or where they shone or shine, 245 Or on the Rubicon, or on the Rhine. A wit's a feather, and a chief a rod;[1517] An honest man's[1518] the noblest work of God. Fame but from death a villain's name can save,[1519] As justice tears his body from the grave; 250 When what t' oblivion better were resigned, Is hung on high, to poison half mankind.[1520] All fame is foreign, but of true desert; Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart: One self-approving hour whole years outweighs 255 Of stupid starers and of loud huzzas; And more true joy Marcellus[1521] exiled feels, Than Cæsar with a senate at his heels.[1522] [Sidenote: 7. Superior parts.] In parts superior[1523] what advantage lies? Tell, for you can, what is it to be wise? 260 'Tis but to know how little can be known;[1524] To see all others' faults, and feel our own;[1525] Condemned in bus'ness or in arts to drudge, Without a second or without a judge:[1526] Truths would you teach, or save a sinking land? 265 All fear, none aid you, and few understand.[1527] Painful pre-eminence![1528] yourself to view Above life's weakness, and its comforts too.[1529] Bring then these blessings to a strict account; Make fair deductions; see to what they 'mount: 270 How much of other each is sure to cost; How each for other oft is wholly lost; How inconsistent greater goods with these; How sometimes life is risked, and always ease. Think, and if still the things thy envy call,[1530] 275 Say would'st thou be the man to whom they fall? To sigh for ribbons if thou art so silly, Mark how they grace Lord Umbra, or Sir Billy.[1531] Is yellow dirt the passion of thy life? Look but on Gripus, or on Gripus' wife.[1532] 280 If parts allure thee, think how Bacon shined, The wisest, brightest, meanest of mankind:[1533] Or ravished with the whistling of a name,[1534] See Cromwell, damned to everlasting fame![1535] If all, united, thy ambition call, 285 From ancient story learn to scorn them all.[1536] There, in the rich, the honoured, famed, and great, See the false scale of happiness complete! In hearts of kings, or arms of queens who lay, How happy those to ruin,[1537] these betray! 290