PRINTED IN THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, 1743.
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Friendship, peculiar boon of Heaven,The noble mind's delight and pride--To men and angels only given,To all the lower world denied! 2 While love, unknown among the blest,Parent of thousand wild desires,The savage and the human breastTorments alike with raging fires; 3 With bright, but oft destructive gleam,Alike o'er all his lightnings fly;Thy lambent glories only beamAround the favourites of the sky. 4 Thy gentle flows of guiltless joys,On fools and villains ne'er descend;In vain for thee the tyrant sighs,And hugs a flatterer for a friend. 5 Directress of the brave and just,Oh, guide us through life's darksome way!And let the tortures of mistrustOn selfish bosoms only prey. 6 Nor shall thine ardours cease to glow,When souls to peaceful climes remove:What raised our virtue here below,Shall aid our happiness above. * * * * * IMITATION OF THE STYLE OF[1] * * * 1 Hermit hoar, in solemn cellWearing out life's evening gray,Strike thy bosom, sage, and tellWhat is bliss, and which the way. 2 Thus I spoke, and speaking sigh'd,Scarce repress'd the starting tear,When the hoary sage replied,'Come, my lad, and drink some beer.' * * * * *
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