And the complying mind receive.
Thus, subject to these adverse powers,
In diff'rent places—diff'rent hours—
Poor mortal man, by their constraint,
May be a sinner or a saint.
To day he's wading to the chin
In folly's stream, through thick and thin;
While, on the morrow, he may prove
What virtue's self delights to love.
'Twas in this case our hero stood:
He might be bad—he might be good;
If good, he must the kitchen sweep—
If bad, its tricks a secret keep;
But if he would preserve his cloth,
He must determine to be both. |
Thus, as he took a thoughtful view,
He saw, his int'rest to pursue,
He must divide himself in two. | } |
Above to stick to rigid plan—
Below to join the lively clan:
In what Sir Jeff'ry did entrust
To his sole province, to be just;
But ne'er to interrupt the show
That was kept up by friends below:
At least, he was resolv'd to try
This system of philosophy;
To be a favourite with all,
In drawing room and servants' hall.
From all that he at present view'd,
No other plan could be pursu'd;
No other method could he trace,
To be at ease and keep his place. |
Up-stairs to serious care he went,
Down-stairs to stolen merriment,
And thus the day and night were spent. | } |