His Yoke is cafie when by us embrac❜d,
But loads and galls, if on our Necks 'tis caft.
Be juft in all thy Actions, and if join'd
With those that are not, never change thy Mind;
If ought obftruct thy Course, yet ftand not ftill,
But wind about, till thou have topp'd the Hill;
To the fame End Men fev'ral Paths may tread,
As many Doors into one Temple lead,
And the fame Hand into a Fift may close,
Which inftantly a Palm expanded shows:
Justice and Faith never forfake the Wise,
Yet
may Occafion put him in Disguise;
Not turning like the Wind, but if the state
Of things must change, he is not obftinate;
Things paft, and future, with the present weighs,
Nor credulous of what Vain Rumour fays:
Few things by Wisdom are at first believ'd,
An eafie Ear deceives, and is deceiv'd;
For many Truths have often past for Lies,
And Lies as often put on Truths Difguife
As Flattery too oft like Friendship shows,
So them who speak plain Truth we think our Foes.
No quick Reply to dubious Queftions make,
Sufpence and Caution ftill prevent Mistake.
When any great defign thou doft intend,
Think on the Means, the Manner, and the End:
All great Concernments muft Delays endure;
Rashness and hafte make all things unfecure;
And if uncertain thy Pretenfions be,
Stay till fit time wear out Uncertainty;
But if to unjust things thou doft pretend,
E'er they begin let thy Pretenfions end.
Let thy Discourse be fuch, that thou may'ft give
Profit to others, or from them receive:
Inftruct the Ignorant; to thofe that live
Under thy care, good Rules and Patterns give;
Nor is't the leaft of Virtues, to relieve
Those whom Afflictions or Oppreffions grieve.
Commend but fparingly whom thou doft love:
But lefs Condemn whom thou doft not approve;
Thy Friend,like Flattery, too much Praise doth wrong,
And too Sharp Cenfure fhews an evil Tongue:
But let inviolate Truth be always dear
To thee, even before Friendship, Truth prefer.
Than what thou mean'ft to give, ftill promife lefs;
Hold faft the Pow'r, thy Promise to increase:
Look forward what's to come, and back what's past,
Thy life will be with Praise and Prudence grac'd:
What lofs, or gain may follow thou may'st guess,
Thou then wilt be fecure of the fuccefs;
Yet be not always on Affairs intent,
But let thy Thoughts be eafie, and unbent,
When our Minds Eyes are dif-ingag'd and free,
They clearer, farther, and diftinctly fee,
They quicken Sloth, Perplexities unty,
Make Roughness smooth, and Hardness mollifie;
And though our Hands from Labour are releast,
Yet our Minds find (even when we fleep) no Rest.
Search not to find how other Men offend,
But by that Glass thy own Offences mend;
Still feek to Learn, yet care not much from whom,
(So it be Learning) or from whence it come.
Of thy own Actions, others Judgments learn,
Often by fmall, great Matters we difcern:
Youth, what Mans Age is like to be doth fhow,
We may our Ends by our Beginnings know.
Let none direct thee what to do or fay,
Till thee thy Judgment of the Matter fway;
Let not the pleafing many thee Delight,
Firft Judge, if those whom thou doft please, Judge right.
Search not to find what lies too deeply hid,
Nor to know things, whofe knowledge is forbid;
Nor climb on Pyramids, which thy head turns round Standing, and whence no fafe Defcent is found;
In vain his Nerves and Faculties he ftrains
To rife, whose raising unfecure remains:
They whom Desert and Favour forwards thrust,
Are Wife, when they their Measures can adjust.
When well at Eafe, and Happy, live content,
And then confider why that Life was lent;
When Wealthy, fhew thy Wisdom not to be
To Wealth a Servant, but make Wealth serve thee.
Though all alone, yet nothing think or do,
Which nor a Witness, nor a Judge might know.
The highest Hill is the moft flipp'ry place,
And Fortune mocks us with a smiling Face;
And her unsteady Hand hath often plac'd
Men in high Pow'r, but feldom holds them faft;
Against her then her Forces Prudence joins,
And to the Golden Mean her self confines.
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