EpistleToRobertGraham,Esq.,OfFintry

epistletorobertgraham,esq.,offintry

requestingafavour

whennaturehergreatmaster-piecedesign'd,

andfram'dherlast,bestwork,thehumanmind,

hereyeintentonallthemazyplan,

sheform'dofvariouspartsthevariousman.

thenfirstshecallstheusefulmanyforth;

plainploddingindustry,andsoberworth:

thencepeasants,farmers,nativesonsofearth,

andmerchandise'wholegenustaketheirbirth:

eachprudentcitawarmexistencefinds,

andallmechanics'many-apron'dkinds.

someotherrarersortsarewantedyet,

theleadandbuoyareneedfultothenet:

thecaputmortuumofgrnssdesires

makesamaterialformereknightsandsquires;

themartialphosphorusistaughttoflow,

shekneadsthelumpishphilosophicdough,

thenmarksth'unyieldingmasswithgravedesigns,

law,physic,politics,anddeepdivines;

last,shesublimesth'auroraofthepoles,

theflashingelementsoffemalesouls.

theorder'dsystemfairbeforeherstood,

nature,wellpleas'd,pronounc'ditverygood;

butereshegavecreatinglabouro'er,

half-jest,shetriedonecuriouslabourmore.

somespumy,fiery,ignisfatuusmatter,

suchastheslightestbreathofairmightscatter;

witharch-alacrityandconsciousglee,

(naturemayhaveherwhimaswellaswe,

herhogarth-artperhapsshemeanttoshowit),

sheformsthethingandchristensit—apoet:

creature,tho'oftthepreyofcareandsorrow,

whenblestto-day,unmindfulofto-morrow;

abeingform'dt'amusehisgraverfriends,

admir'dandprais'd—andtherethehomageends;

amortalquiteunfitforfortune'sstrife,

yetoftthesportofalltheillsoflife;

pronetoenjoyeachpleasurerichesgive,

yethaplywantingwherewithaltolive;

longingtowipeeachtear,tohealeachgroan,

yetfrequentallunheededinhisown.

buthonestnatureisnotquiteaturk,

shelaugh'datfirst,thenfeltforherpoorwork:

pityingtheproplessclimberofmankind,

shecastaboutastandardtreetofind;

and,tosupporthishelplesswoodbinestate,

attach'dhimtothegenerous,trulygreat:

atitle,andtheonlyoneiclaim,

tolaystrongholdforhelponbounteousgraham.