Alexander Pope ( 10 of 261 )
Heav'n first taught letters for some wretch's aid,
Some banish'd lover, or some captive maid.
Heav'n first taught letters for some wretch's aid,
Some banish'd lover, or some captive maid.
Good-nature and good-sense must ever join;
To err is human, to forgive, divine.
Good-nature and good-sense must ever join;
To err is human, to forgive, divine.
What dire Offence from am'rous Causes springs,
What mighty Contests rise from trivial Things.
What dire Offence from am'rous Causes springs,
What mighty Contests rise from trivial Things.
But Satan now is wiser than of yore,
And tempts by making rich, not making poor.
But Satan now is wiser than of yore,
And tempts by making rich, not making poor.
To be, contents his natural desire,
He asks no angel's wing, no seraph's fire;
But thinks, admitted read more
To be, contents his natural desire,
He asks no angel's wing, no seraph's fire;
But thinks, admitted to that equal sky,
His faithful dog shall bear him company.
Go wiser thou! and in thy scale of sense
Weigh thy opinion against Providence.
Satan is wiser now than before, and tempts by making rich instead of poor.
Satan is wiser now than before, and tempts by making rich instead of poor.
'Tis thus the mercury of man is fix'd,
Strong grows the virtue with his nature mix'd.
'Tis thus the mercury of man is fix'd,
Strong grows the virtue with his nature mix'd.
Where stray ye, Muses! in what lawn or grove,
. . . .
In those fair fields read more
Where stray ye, Muses! in what lawn or grove,
. . . .
In those fair fields where sacred Isis glides,
Or else where Cam his winding vales divides?
"An't it please your Honour," quoth the Peasant,
"This same Desset is not so pleasant:
Give me read more
"An't it please your Honour," quoth the Peasant,
"This same Desset is not so pleasant:
Give me again my hollow Tree,
A Crust of Bread, and Liberty."
In men, we various ruling passions find;
In women two almost divide the kind;
Those only fix'd, read more
In men, we various ruling passions find;
In women two almost divide the kind;
Those only fix'd, they first or last obey.
The love of pleasure, and the love of sway.