We slight the precious kernel of the stone,
And toil to polish it's rough coat alone.

A just deportment, manners grac'd with ease,
Elegant phrase, and figure form'd to please,
Are qualities, that seem to comprehend
Whatever parents, guardians, schools intend:
Hence an unfurnish'd and a listless mind,
Though busy, trifling; empty, though refin'd;
Hence all that interferes, and dares to clash
With indolence and luxury, is trash:

420

While learning, once the man's exclusive pride, Seems verging fast towards the female side. Learning itself, receiv'd into a mind

By nature weak, or viciously inclin❜d,

Serves but to lead philosophers astray,

430

Where children would with ease discern the

way.

And of all arts sagacious dupes invent,

To cheat themselves and gain the World's assent, The worst is-Scripture warp'd from it's intent.

The carriage bowls along, and all are pleas'd If Tom be sober, and the wheels well greas'd; But if the rogue have gone a cup too far, Left out his linchpin, or forgot his tar,

It suffers interruption and delay,

440

And meets with hindrance in the smoothest way When some hypothesis absurd and vain

Has fill'd with all it's fumes a critic's brain,

The text, that sorts not with his darling whim,
Though plain to others, is obscure to him.

The will made subject to a lawless force,

All is irregular and out of course;

449

And Judgment drunk, and brib'd to lose his way, Winks hard, and talks of darkness at noonday.

A critic on the sacred book should be

Candid and learn'd, dispassionate and free;
Free from the wayward bias bigots feel,

From fancy's influence, and intemp'rate zeal:
But above all, (or let the wretch refrain,

Nor touch the page he cannot but profane)

Free from the domineering pow'r of lust;

A lewd interpreter is never just.

How shall I speak thee, or thy pow'r address, Thou god of our idolatry, the press?

By thee, religion, liberty, and laws,

461

Exert their influence, and advance their cause;
By thee worse plagues than Pharaoh's land befel,
Diffus'd, make Earth the vestibule of Hell;

Thou fountain, at which drink the good and wise;
Thou ever-bubbling spring of endless lies;
Like Eden's dread probationary tree,
Knowledge of good and evil is from thee.

No wild enthusiast ever yet could rest,
Till half mankind were like himself possess❜d.

Philosophers, who darken and put out

Eternal truth, by everlasting doubt;

470

Church quacks, with passions under no command, Who fill the World with doctrines contraband, Discov❜rers of they know not what, confin'd

Within no bounds the blind that lead the blind;

To streams of popular opinion drawn,

Deposit in those shallows all their spawn.

The wriggling fry soon fill the creeks around,

479

Pois'ning the waters where their swarms abound Scorn'd by the nobler tenants of the flood,

Minnows and gudgeons gorge th' unwholesome

food.

The propagated myriads spread so fast,

Ev'n Leuwenhoeck himself would stand aghast,
Employ'd to calculate th' enormous sum,
And own his crab-computing pow'rs o'ercome.
Is this hyperbole? The World well known,
Your sober thoughts will hardly find it one.
Fresh confidence the speculatist takes

From ev'ry hairbrain'd proselyte he makes;

490

And therefore prints. Himself but half de

ceiv'd,

Till others have the soothing tale believ❜d.

Hence comment after comment, spun as fine

As bloated spiders draw the flimsy line:

Hence the same word, that bids our lusts obey, Is misapplied to sanctify their sway.

If stubborn Greek refuse to be his friend,

Hebrew or Syriac shall be forc'd to bend:
If languages and copies all cry, No-

Somebody prov'd it centuries ago.

Like trout pursu'd, the critic in despair

Darts to the mud, and finds his safety there.
Women, whom custom has forbid to fly

500

The scholar's pitch, (the scholar best knows why)
With all the simple and unletter'd poor,

Admire his learning, and almost adore.
Whoever errs, the priest can ne'er be wrong,
With such fine words familiar to his tongue.

Ye ladies! (for indiff'rent in your cause,
I should deserve to forfeit all applause)
Whatever shocks, or gives the least offence
To virtue, delicacy, truth, or sense,

(Try the criterion, 'tis a faithful guide)

Nor has, nor can have, Scripture on it's side.

510