With one presiding purpose in his view, At length, with power endued and wealthy grown, Frailties and passions, long suppress'd, were shown; Then to provoke him was a dangerous thing, His pride would punish, and his temper sting; His powerful hatred sought th' avenging hour, And his proud vengeance struck with all his power, Save when th' offender took a prudent way The rising storm of fury to allay: This might he do, and so in safety sleep, By largely casting to the angry deep; By pouring oil of flattery on its rage. And now, of all the heart approved, possess'd, On the sick taste, and transient are they all; The more we take, the faster we devour; As gapes Nauseous to those who must the dose apply, But let the muse assign the man his due: Worth he possess'd, nor were his virtues few ;— He sometimes help'd the injured in their cause; His power and purse have back'd the failing laws; He for religion has a due respect, And all his serious notions are correct; Although he pray'd and languish'd for a son, Subject unfit, in compliment to friends: Who their last guinea in their pleasures spent, Yet never fell so low as to repent; To these his pity he could largely deal, Wealth they had known, and therefore want could feel. The moral feelings of Sir Denys Brand. THE BOROUGII. LETTER XIV. INHABITANTS OF THE ALMS-HOUSE. BLANEY. Sed quia cæcus inest vitiis amor, omne futurum Claudian. in Eutrop. Nunquam parvo contenta peracta Et quæsitorum terrâ pelagoque ciborum Et Luxus, populator Opum, tibi semper adhærens, Infelix humili gressu comitatur Egestas. Claudian. in Rufinum. Behold what blessing wealth to life can lend ! Pope. Blaney, a wealthy Heir, dissipated, and reduced to Poverty-His Fortune restored by Marriage: again consumedHis Manner of living in the West Indies-Recalled to a larger Inheritance-His more refined and expensive Luxuries-His Method of quieting Conscience-Death of his Wife-Again become poor-His Method of supporting Existence His Ideas of Religion-His Habits and Connexions when old-Admitted into the Alms-House. |