ON THE DEATH OF DR. SWIFT.*

Occafioned by reading the following MAXIM in ROCHEFOUCAULT, "Dans l'adverfité de nos "meilleurs amis, nous trouvons toujours quelque "chose qui ne nous déplaît pas.

"In the adverfity of our best friends, we always find something "that doth not difpleafe us."

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S Rochefoucault his maxims drew

From nature, 1 believe them true:

They argue no corrupted mind

In him;

the fault is in mankind.
This maxim more than all the reft
Is thought too base for human breast:
"In all diftreffes of our friends,
"We first confult our private ends;
"While nature, kindly bent to ease us,
"Points out fome circumftance to please us."
If this perhaps your patience move,

Let reafon and experience prove.
We all behold with envious eyes
Our equals rais'd above our fize.

*Written in November, 1731.-There are two diftin&t poems on this fubject, one of them containing many spurious lines. In what is here printed, the genuine parts of both are preferved.

N.

Who would not at a crowded show

Stand high himself, keep others low?
I love my friend as well as you:
But why should he obftruct my view?
Then let me have the higher poft;
Suppofe it but an inch at moft.

If in a battle you should find

One, whom you love of all mankind,
Had fome heroic action done,
A champion kill'd, or trophy won;
Rather than thus be over-topt,
Would you not wish his laurels cropt?
Dear honeft Ned is in the gout,

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She turns to envy, ftings, and hiffes:

The ftrongest friendship yields to pride,

Unless the odds be on our fide.

Vain human-kind! fantaftic race! Thy various follies who can trace? Self-love, ambition, envy, pride, Their empire in our hearts divide. Give others riches, power, and station, "Tis all to me an ufurpation.

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I have