Lorenzo! thou, her majesty's renown'd, Though uncoift, counsel, learned in the world! Who think'st thyself a Murray,[47] with disdain 602 May'st look on me. Yet, my Demosthenes! Canst thou plead Pleasure's cause as well as I? Know'st thou her nature, purpose, parentage? Attend my song, and thou shalt know them all; And know thyself; and know thyself to be (Strange truth!) the most abstemious man alive. Tell not Calista; she will laugh thee dead; Or send thee to her hermitage with L----. 610 Absurd presumption! Thou who never knew'st A serious thought! shalt thou dare dream of joy? No man e'er found a happy life by chance; Or yawn'd it into being with a wish; Or, with the snout of grovelling appetite, E'er smelt it out, and grubb'd it from the dirt. An art it is, and must be learn'd; and learn'd With unremitting effort, or be lost; And leaves us perfect blockheads, in our bliss. The clouds may drop down titles and estates; 620 Wealth may seek us; but Wisdom must be sought; Sought before all; but (how unlike all else We seek on earth!) 'tis never sought in vain. First, Pleasure's birth, rise, strength, and grandeur, see. Brought forth by Wisdom, nursed by Discipline, By Patience taught, by Perseverance crown'd, She rears her head majestic; round her throne, 627 Erected in the bosom of the just, Each virtue, listed, forms her manly guard. For what are virtues? (formidable name!) What, but the fountain, or defence, of joy? Why, then, commanded? Need mankind commands, At once to merit, and to make, their bliss?-- Great Legislator! scarce so great, as kind! 634 If men are rational, and love delight, Thy gracious law but flatters human choice; In the transgression lies the penalty; And they the most indulge, who most obey. Of Pleasure, next, the final cause explore; Its mighty purpose, its important end. 640 Not to turn human brutal, but to build Divine on human, Pleasure came from heaven. In aid to Reason was the goddess sent; To call up all its strength by such a charm. Pleasure, first, succours Virtue; in return, Virtue gives Pleasure an eternal reign. What, but the pleasure of food, friendship, faith, Supports life natural, civil, and divine? 'Tis from the pleasure of repast, we live; 'Tis from the pleasure of applause, we please; 650 'Tis from the pleasure of belief, we pray (All prayer would cease, if unbelieved the prize): It serves ourselves, our species, and our God; And to serve more, is past the sphere of man. Glide, then, for ever, pleasure's sacred stream! Through Eden, as Euphrates ran, it runs, And fosters every growth of happy life; Makes a new Eden where it flows;--but such As must be lost, Lorenzo! by thy fall.