Alexander Pope ( 10 of 261 )
To what base ends, and by what abject ways,
Are mortals urg'd through sacred lust of praise!
To what base ends, and by what abject ways,
Are mortals urg'd through sacred lust of praise!
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.
Oh her white breast a sparkling cross she wore,
Which Jews might kiss and Infidels adore.
Oh her white breast a sparkling cross she wore,
Which Jews might kiss and Infidels adore.
Next o'er his books his eyes began to roll,
In pleasing memory of all he stole;
How read more
Next o'er his books his eyes began to roll,
In pleasing memory of all he stole;
How here he sipp'd, how there he plunder'd snug,
And suck'd all o'er like an industrious bug.
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.
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.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Who pants for glory, finds but short repose;
A breath revives him, or a breath o'erthrows.
Who pants for glory, finds but short repose;
A breath revives him, or a breath o'erthrows.
Some positive persisting fops we know,
Who, if once wrong, will needs be always so;
But you read more
Some positive persisting fops we know,
Who, if once wrong, will needs be always so;
But you with pleasure own your errors past,
And make each day a critique on the last.
The learn'd reflect on what before they knew.
The learn'd reflect on what before they knew.
