A DIALOGUE between the SOUL, RICHES, FAME, and PLEASURE.
RICHES.
Deluded mortal, turn and view my store,
While all my glitt'ring treasures I explore.
The gold of both the Indian worlds is mine,
And gems that in the eastern quarries shine.
For me advent'rous men attempt the mai
And all the fury of its waves sustain,
For me all toils and hazards they disdain.
For me their country's sold, their faith betray'd;
The voice of interest ne'er was disobey'd.
SOUL.
Yet I thy tempting offers can despise,
Nor lose a wish on such a worthless prize.
When yonder sparkling stars attract my sight,
Thy gold, thy boasted gems, lose all their light.
My daring thoughts above these trifles rise,
And aim at glorious kingdoms in the skies.
I there expect celestial diadems,
Outshining all thy counterfeited gems.
FAME.
'Tis nothing strange, that thy ambitious mind,
In sordid wealth should no temptation find:
But I have terms which thy acceptance claim,
Heroic glory, and a mighty name!
To these the greatest souls on earth aspire,
Souls most endow'd with the celestial fire;
Whom neither wealth, nor beauty can inflame,
These hazard all for an illustrious name.
SOUL.
And yet thou art a mere fantastic thing,
Which can no solid satisfaction bring.
Should I in costly monuments survive,
And, after death, in men's applauses live;
What profit were their vain applause to me,
If doom'd below to endless infamy?
Sunk in reproach, and everlasting shame
With God, and angels, where's my promis'd fame?
But if their approbation I obtain,
And deathless wreaths, and heav'nly glories gain,
I may the world's false pageantry disdain.
PLEASURE.
But where the baits of wealth and honour fail,
Th' inchanting voice of pleasure may prevail:
The lewd and virtuous, both my vassals prove;
No breast so guarded but my charms can move.
All that delights mankind, attends on me,
Beauty, and youth, and love, and harmony.
I wing the smiling hours, and gild the day,
My paths are smooth, and flow'ry all my way.
SOUL.
But, ah! these paths to black perdition tend,
There soon thy soft, deluding visions end.
Those smooth, those flow'ry ways, lead down to hell,
Where all thy slaves in endless night must dwell.
The road of virtue far more rugged is,
But, oh! it leads to everlasting bliss:
And all beyond the thorny passage lies
The realm of light, discover'd to mine eyes;
Gay bow'rs, and streams of joy, and lightsome fields,
With happy shades, and beauteous prospect yields:
Those blissful regions I shall shortly gain,
Where peace, and love, and endless pleasures reign.
RICHES.
Deluded mortal, turn and view my store,
While all my glitt'ring treasures I explore.
The gold of both the Indian worlds is mine,
And gems that in the eastern quarries shine.
For me advent'rous men attempt the mai
And all the fury of its waves sustain,
For me all toils and hazards they disdain.
For me their country's sold, their faith betray'd;
The voice of interest ne'er was disobey'd.
SOUL.
Yet I thy tempting offers can despise,
Nor lose a wish on such a worthless prize.
When yonder sparkling stars attract my sight,
Thy gold, thy boasted gems, lose all their light.
My daring thoughts above these trifles rise,
And aim at glorious kingdoms in the skies.
I there expect celestial diadems,
Outshining all thy counterfeited gems.
FAME.
'Tis nothing strange, that thy ambitious mind,
In sordid wealth should no temptation find:
But I have terms which thy acceptance claim,
Heroic glory, and a mighty name!
To these the greatest souls on earth aspire,
Souls most endow'd with the celestial fire;
Whom neither wealth, nor beauty can inflame,
These hazard all for an illustrious name.
SOUL.
And yet thou art a mere fantastic thing,
Which can no solid satisfaction bring.
Should I in costly monuments survive,
And, after death, in men's applauses live;
What profit were their vain applause to me,
If doom'd below to endless infamy?
Sunk in reproach, and everlasting shame
With God, and angels, where's my promis'd fame?
But if their approbation I obtain,
And deathless wreaths, and heav'nly glories gain,
I may the world's false pageantry disdain.
PLEASURE.
But where the baits of wealth and honour fail,
Th' inchanting voice of pleasure may prevail:
The lewd and virtuous, both my vassals prove;
No breast so guarded but my charms can move.
All that delights mankind, attends on me,
Beauty, and youth, and love, and harmony.
I wing the smiling hours, and gild the day,
My paths are smooth, and flow'ry all my way.
SOUL.
But, ah! these paths to black perdition tend,
There soon thy soft, deluding visions end.
Those smooth, those flow'ry ways, lead down to hell,
Where all thy slaves in endless night must dwell.
The road of virtue far more rugged is,
But, oh! it leads to everlasting bliss:
And all beyond the thorny passage lies
The realm of light, discover'd to mine eyes;
Gay bow'rs, and streams of joy, and lightsome fields,
With happy shades, and beauteous prospect yields:
Those blissful regions I shall shortly gain,
Where peace, and love, and endless pleasures reign.