Pride of my youth, and Comfort of my age! To thee I consecrate this useful page. Vers'd in the nicest arts of human kind, To thee thy Parent pours forth all his mind; And be it thine to treasure in thy heart The grand _arcana_, which I now impart. As Health derives its most important charge, More from the smaller vessels than the large, On small events so man's success depends, By these alone he gains the greatest ends; And as he keeps this maxim, or forsakes, A Trifle marrs him, or a Trifle makes. Court then the Graces, court! as I have done; This rule adopt, or quit the name of Son. This I will hollow constant in thy ear, As loud as _Hotspur_ hollow'd _Mortimer_: I would not keep a cat, or feed a bird, That pip'd ungraceful, or ungraceful purr'd[1]. Let strict _Attention_ all your acts direct, It wins Applause, as it denotes Respect. Observe it in the most minute degree, As well when _out_ of, as _in_ company. Observe it even in the SHRINE OF EASE, An error there the GODDESS may displease. Learn what materials will your purpose fit, And next enquire the _Quantum sufficit_; That _quantum_ then in even folds dispose, And wipe as cleanly, as you'd wipe your Nose. In ev'ry circumstance, in ev'ry place, The ease of Nature asks the ease of Grace. What pity 'tis! a Gentleman can't send This vulgar deed his Proxy to attend. 'Tis quite _beneath_ the dignity of man, So prithee, Child! avoid it--if you can; But if it prove an irksome, windy war, And nought, but vent, can terminate the jar; _Distinct and graceful_, let th' explosion sound, And fill with Harmony the sweet profound. Think not that Merit of itself can raise Promotion's ladder, or the step of Praise[2]. How came SIR FLETCHER in the Speaker's Chair! Did Merit, or the Graces place him there. Without the Graces what would THURLOE be! THURLOE the Sage--a brief without a fee; If more polite, perhaps he might be CHIEF, And then he'd have the Fee without the Brief. Say! was it Merit, like a blazing Star, That first distinguish'd DUNNING at the Bar! By Grace, and Attitude, the Prize he won, For he and Grace, and Grace and he are one; And whilst his rapid energy alarms, The _Lawyer_ strikes us--but th' ADONIS charms. To Justice BLACKSTONE now direct your eyes, With him in parts what other Justice vies! 'Twas his to comment, his to analyze, And draw the cobweb-curtain from our eyes; Each legal winding nicely to explore, And give to RUFUS one sound Lawyer more. But what of that! he might have still retail'd Inglorious Fees, had not his form prevail'd; His gracious form, by Nature fram'd to please, Which robs ANTINOUS of half his ease.