Cutler and Brutus, dying, both exclaim,

"Virtue! and Wealth! what are ye but a name !"
Say, for fuch worth are other worlds prepar'd? 335
Or are they both, in this, their own reward?
A knotty point! to which we now proceed.
But you are tir'd-I'll tell a tale-B. Agreed.

P. Where London's column, pointing at the skies.
Like a tall bully, lifts the head, and lies
There dwelt a Citizen of fober fame,

A plain good man, and Balaam was his name;
Religious, punctual, frugal, and fo forth;

His word would pass for more than he was worth.
One folid dish his week-day meal affords,

An added pudding folemniz'd the Lord's:

340

345

Conftant at Church, and Change; his gains were fure, His givings rare, fave farthings to the poor.

The Devil was piqu'd fuch saintship to behold, And long'd to tempt him, like good Job of old: But Satan now is wifer than of

yore,

350

And tempts by making rich, not making poor.
Rouz'd by the Prince of Air, the whirlwinds fweep
The furge, and plunge his Father in the deep;
Then full against his Cornish lands they roar,
And two rich fhipwrecks blefs the lucky fhore.
Sir Balaam now, he lives like other folks,
He takes his chirping pint, and cracks his jokes :

355

* Live

VARIATION.

Ver. 337. In the former Editions,

That knotty point, my Lord, shall I discuss,
Or tell a tale?-A Tale--It follows thus.

And lo! two puddings fmoak'd upon the board.
Asleep and naked as an Indian lay,
An honeft factor ftole a Gem away:

"Live like yourfelf," was foon my Lady's word;

360

He pledg'd it to the knight, the knight had wit,
So kept the Diamond, and the rogue was bit.
Some fcruple rofe, but thus he eas'd his thought,
"I'll now give fixpence where I gave a groat;
"Where once I went to church, I'll now go twice-
"And am fo clear too of all other vice."

3.65

The Tempter faw his time; the work he ply'd;
Stocks and Subfcriptions pour on every side,
Till all the Dæmon makes his full descent
In one abundant fhower of Cent per Cent,
Sinks deep within him, and possesses whole,
Then dubs Director, and fecures his foul.

Behold Sir Balaam now a man of spirit,
Afcribes his gettings to his parts and merit;
What late he call'd a Bleffing, now was Wit,

And God's good Providence, a lucky Hit.
Things change their titles, as our manners turn:

370

375

His Compting-house employ'd the Sunday-morn: 380 Seldom at Church, ('twas such a busy life)

But duly fent his family and wife.

There (fo the Devil ordain'd) one Christmas-tide
My good old Lady catch'd a cold, and dy'd.

A Nymph of Quality admires our Knight;
He marries, bows at Court, and grows polite :
Leaves the dull Cits, and joins (to please the Fair)
The well-bred cuckolds in St. James's air:

385

First, for his Son a gay Commiffion buys,

Who drinks, whores, fights, and in a duel dies:
His Daughter flaunts a Viscount's tawdry wife;
She bears a Coronet and P-x for life.

In Britain's Senate he a feat obtains,
And one more Penfioner St. Stephen gains.
My Lady falls to play: fo bad her chance,
He must repair it; takes a bribe from France;
The House impeach him, Coningsby harangues;
The Court forfake him, and Sir Balaam hangs;
Wife, fon, and daughter, Satan! are thy own,
His wealth, yet dearer, forfeit to the Crown :

The Devil and the King divide the prize,

And fad Sir Balaam curfes God and dies.

390

395

400

THE Vanity of Expence in People of Wealth and Quality. The abuse of the word Tafte, ver. 13. That the first principle and foundation in this, as in every thing elfe, is Good Senfe, ver. 40. The chief proof of it is to follow Nature, even in works of mere Luxury and Elegance. Inftanced in Architecture and Gardening, where all must be adapted to the Genius and Ufe of the Place, and the Beauties not forced into it, but refulting from it, ver. 50. How men are difappointed in their most expensive undertakings, for want of this true Foundation, without which nothing can please long, if at all; and the best Examples and Rules will be but perverted into something burdenfome and ridiculous, ver. 65, &c. to 92. A defcription of the falfe Taste of Magnificence; the firft grand error of which is, to imagine that Greatnefs confifts in the Size and Dimension, instead of the Proportion and Harmony of the whole, ver. 97. and the second, either

in joining together Parts incoherent, or too minutely resembling, or in the Repetition of the fame too frequently, ver. 105, &c. A word or two of falfe Tafte in Books, in Music, in Painting, even in Preaching and Prayer, and laftly in Entertainments, ver. 133, &c. Yet PROVIDENCE is justified in giving Wealth to be squandered in this manner, fince it is difperfed to the Poor and Laborious part of mankind, ver. 169. [recurring to what is laid down in the firft Book, Ep. ii. and in the Epiftle preceding this, ver. 159, &c.] What are the proper Objects of Magnificence, and a proper field for the Expence of Great Men, ver. 177, &c. and finally the Great and Public Works which become a Prince, ver. 191, to the end.