ARGUMENT. The Subject:-Poverty and Cunning described :-When united, a jarring Couple.-Mutual reproof.-The Wife consoled by a Dream.-Birth of a Daughter.-Description and Prediction of Envy :-How to be rendered ineffectual, explained in a Vision.-Simulation foretells the future Success and Triumphs of Flattery.—Her Power over various Characters and different Minds ;over certain Classes of Men;-over Envy himself.— Her successful Art of softening the Evils of Life ;-of changing Characters;of meliorating Prospects, and affixing Value to Possessions, Pictures, &c.-Conclusion. THE BIRTH OF FLATTERY. Omnia habeo, nec quicquam habeo ; id quoque : Negat quis, nego; ait, aio: Postremò imperavi egomet mihi Omnia assentari. TERENT. in Eunuch. It has been held in antient Rules, Swrrr. MUSE of my Spencer, who so well could sing, The Passions all, their bearings and their ties; Who could in view those shadowy beings bring, And with bold hand, remove each dark disguise, Wherein Love, Hatred, Scorn, or Anger lies: Guide him to Fairy Land, who now intends That way his flight; assist him as he flies, To mark those passions, virtue's foes and friends, By whom when led she droops, when leading she ascends. Yes! they appear, I see the fairy-train! Not Hope, though promising to all, success; Thy birth relate, thy soothing arts confess, "Tis not in thy mild nature to refuse, When Poets ask thine aid, so oft their meed and Muse. In fairy-land, on wide and cheerless plain, As one who murmur'd, yet as one who fear'd; In that same plain a nymph of curious taste, A cottage (plann'd with all her skill) had plac'd; Strange the materials, and for what design'd The various parts, no simple man might find; What seem'd the door, each entering guest withstood; What seem'd a window, was but painted wood; But by a secret spring, the wall would move, Now, whether fate decreed this pair should wed, And blindly drove them to the marriage bed; Or whether love in some soft hour inclin'd The damsel's heart and won her to be kind, Is yet unsung; they were an ill-match'd pair, But both disposed to wed, and wed they were. Yet though united in their fortune, still "Wretch that I am; since to thy fortune bound, Say what success has one projection crown'd? I, who a thousand secret arts possess, Who every rank approach with right address; |