A Turkey carpet was his lawn, Whereon he loved to bound, To skip and gambol like a fawn, And swing his rump around. His frisking was at evening hours, But most before approaching showers, Eight years and five round rolling moons Dozing out all his idle noons, He finds his long last home, And waits, in snug concealment laid, Till gentler Puss shall come. He, still more aged, feels the shocks, 40 ON FRIENDSHIP° Amicitia nisi inter bonos esse non potest. WHAT virtue can we name, or grace, Will boast it their possession? And dulness of discretion. But as the gem of richest cost Employs the utmost skill she can ... Some will pronounce me too severe Youth, unadmonished by a guide, CICERO. For who, but learns, with riper years, But here again a danger lies We should, when undeceived, conclude An acquisition, rather rare, No friendship will abide the test And mean self-love erected; Nor such, as may awhile subsist "Twixt sensualist and sensualist, For vicious ends connected. Who hopes a friend, should have a heart, And ready on occasion To show the virtue that he seeks; A just reciprocation. A fretful temper will divide The closest knot that may be tied, 50 55 60 By ceaseless sharp corrosion; A temper passionate and fierce May suddenly your joys disperse At one immense explosion. In vain the talkative unite The secret just committed, They drop through mere desire to prate, How bright soe'er the prospect seems, As envy pines at good possessed, On good that seems approaching; And hates him for encroaching. Hence authors of illustrious name, (Unless belied by common fame,) Are sadly prone to quarrel; To deem the wit a friend displays A man renowned for repartee Beware of tattlers; keep your ear Close stopped against the tales they bear; The separation of chief friends Is what their kindness most intends; Friendship that wantonly admits In brilliant altercation, Is union such as indicates, 80 85 90 Like hand-in-hand insurance-plates, 95 Danger of conflagration. Some fickle creatures boast a soul Yet shifting, like the weather, 100 |