John Gay

A man should be religious, not superstitious.

A man should be religious, not superstitious.

Give me, kind Heaven, a private station,
A mind serene for contemplation:
Title and profit I resign;
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Give me, kind Heaven, a private station,
A mind serene for contemplation:
Title and profit I resign;
The post of honor shall be mine.

Good housewives all the winter's rage despise,
Defended by the riding-hood's disguise;
Or, underneath the umbrella's oily read more

Good housewives all the winter's rage despise,
Defended by the riding-hood's disguise;
Or, underneath the umbrella's oily shade,
Safe through the wet on clinking pattens tread,
Let Persian dames the unbrella's ribs display,
To guard their beauties from the sunny ray;
Or sweating slaves support the shady load,
When eastern monarchs show their state abroad;
Britain in winter only knows its aid,
To guard from chilling showers the walking maid.

Life is a jest; and all things show it.
I thought so once; but now I know it.

Life is a jest; and all things show it.
I thought so once; but now I know it.

The coquets of both sexes are self-lovers, and that is a love no other whatever can dispossess.

The coquets of both sexes are self-lovers, and that is a love no other whatever can dispossess.