Say, Anna, had you never known The works of man tend, one and all, And vanity absorbs at length The monuments of human strength. Not that I deem, or mean to call That seem'd to promise no such prize; And made almost without a meaning, Produced a friendship, then begun, That Solomon has wisely spoken: 66 A threefold cord is not soon broken." C THE COLUBRIAD. LOSE by the threshold of a door nail'd fast I, passing swift and inattentive by, At the three kittens cast a careless eye; Not much concern'd to know what they did there; Not deeming kittens worth a poet's care. But presently a loud and furious hiss Caused me to stop, and to exclaim, "What's this?" A viper, long as Count de Grasse's queue. Forth from his head his forkèd tongue he throws, Her whisker'd face, she ask'd him, "Who are you?" But still the kittens, sitting as before, With outstretch'd hoe I slew him at the door, ON FRIENDSHIP. "Amicitia nisi inter bonos esse non potest."-CICERO, HAT virtue can we name, or grace, WHAT But men unqualified and base Will boast it their possession? Profusion apes the noble part Of liberality of heart, And dulness of discretion. But, as the gem of richest cost Is ever counterfeited most, |