You taught him in your middle course to steer,
Impartial, moderate, candid to appear;
Fearful of enmity, to friendship cold,
Cautiously frank, and timorously bold,
And so observant, never to offend
A foe, he quite forgets to fix a friend.
Long versed in politics, but poor in parts,
The courtier’s tricks, but not the statesman’s arts;
His smile obedient to his purpose still,
Some dirty compromise his utmost skill;