Guests in disguise, of her great Master's train: Her Lord himself might come, for aught we know, Since in a servant's form he lived below: Beneath her roof he might be pleased to stay; Or some benighted angel, in his way, Might ease his wings, and, seeing heaven appear In its best work of mercy, think it there; Where all the deeds of charity and love Were in as constant method, as above, All carried on; all of a piece with theirs; } As free her alms, as diligent her cares; } As loud her praises, and as warm her prayers. } Yet was she not profuse; but feared to waste, And wisely managed, that the stock might last; That all might be supplied, and she not grieve, When crowds appeared, she had not to relieve: Which to prevent, she still increased her store; Laid up, and spared, that she might give the more. So Pharaoh, or some greater king than he, Provided for the seventh necessity;[88] Taught from above his magazines to frame, That famine was prevented ere it came. Thus heaven, though all-sufficient, shews a thrift In his œconomy, and bounds his gift; Creating for our day one single light, And his reflection too supplies the night. Perhaps a thousand other worlds, that lie Remote from us, and latent in the sky, Are lightened by his beams, and kindly nurst, Of which our earthly dunghill is the worst. Now, as all virtues keep the middle line, Yet somewhat more to one extreme incline, Such was her soul; abhorring avarice, Bounteous, but almost bounteous to a vice; Had she given more, it had profusion been, And turned the excess of goodness into sin. These virtues raised her fabric to the sky; For that which is next heaven is charity. But as high turrets for their airy steep Require foundations in proportion deep, And lofty cedars as far upward shoot As to the nether heavens they drive the root; So low did her secure foundation lie, She was not humble, but humility. Scarcely she knew that she was great, or fair, } Or wise, beyond what other women are, } Or, which is better, knew, but never durst compare. } For, to be conscious of what all admire, And not be vain, advances virtue higher. But still she found, or rather thought she found, Her own worth wanting, others' to abound; Ascribed above their due to every one, Unjust and scanty to herself alone. Such her devotion was, as might give rules Of speculation to disputing schools, And teach us equally the scales to hold Betwixt the two extremes of hot and cold; That pious heat may moderately prevail, And we be warmed, but not be scorched with zeal. Business might shorten, not disturb, her prayer; Heaven had the best, if not the greater share. An active life long orisons forbids; Yet still she prayed, for still she prayed by deeds. Her every day was sabbath; only free From hours of prayer, for hours of charity.