Hearts melt; but melt like Ice, foon harder froze.

True Love ftrikes root in Reafon; Paffion's Foe:

Virtue alone entenders us for Life:

I

wrong

her much---- entenders us for ever.

Of Friendship's fairest fruits, the fruit most fair

Is Virtue kindling at a Rival Fire,

And, emulously, rapid in her Race,

O the foft Enmity! Endearing Strife!

This carrys Friendship to her noon-tide Point,
And gives the Rivet of Eternity.

From Friendship which outlives my Former themes, Glorious Survivor of old Time, and Death! From Friendship, thus, that Flow'r of Heavenly The Wife extract Earth's moft Hyblean Bliss,

Seed,

Superior Wisdom, crown'd with smiling Joy;
For Joy, from Friendship born, abounds in Smiles.

O Store it in the Soul's moft Golden Cell!

But for whom bloffoms this Elyfian Flower?
Abroad They find, who cherish it, at Home.
Lorenzo! pardon what my Love extorts,

An honest Love, and not afraid to frown.
Tho' choice of Follies faften on the Great,
None clings more obftinate, than Fancy fond
That facred Friendship is their easy prey;
Caught by the Wafture of a Golden Lure;
Or Fascination of a high-born Smile.

Their Smiles the Great and the Coquet throw out
For Others Hearts; Tenacious of their Own :
And we no less of ours, when fuch the Bait.
Ye fortune's Cofferers! Ye powers of Wealth!
You do your Rent-rolls moft felonious wrong,
By taking our Attachment to yourselves.
Can Gold gain Friendship? Impudence of Hope!
As well meer Man an Angel might beget.
Love, and Love only, is the Loan for Love,

Lorenzo!

Lorenzo! Pride repress; nor hope to find

A Friend, but what has found a Friend in Thee. All like the Purchase, few the price will pay ; Add this makes Friends fuch Miracles below.

What if (fince Daring on so nice a Theme) ·
I shew thee Friendship Delicate, as Dear;
Of tender Violations apt to die?

Reserve will wound it; and Distrust, destroy.
Deliberate on all things with thy Friend;

But fince Friends grow not thick on ev'ry Bough,
Nor every Friend unrotten at the Core;

First, on thy Friend, deliberate with Thyself:
Pause, ponder, fift; not Eager in the Choice,
Nor Jealous of the Chofen: Fixing, Fix:
Judge before Friendship, then confide till Death.
Well, for thy Friend; but Nobler far for Thee;
How Gallant danger for Earth's Highest prize?
A Friend is worth all hazard we can run.

"Poor

1

"Poor is the Friendless Mafter of a World:

"A World in purchase for a Friend is Gain."

So fung He (Angels hear that Angel fing!
Angels from Friendship gather Half their Joy.)
So fung Philander, as his Friend went round
In the rich Ichor, in the generous blood
Of Bacchus, purple God of joyous Wit,

A Brow folute, and ever-laughing Eye:
He drank long Health, and Virtue to his Friend;
His Friend, who warm'd him more, who more

infpir'd.

Friendship's the Wine of Life; but Friendship new

(Not fuch was His) is neither Strong, nor Pure.

O! for the bright Complexion, cordial Warmth,

And elevating Spirit, of a Friend,

For twenty Summers ripening by my fide;

All Feculence of Falfhood long thrown down;
All Social Virtues rifing in his Soul;

As Crystal clear; and smiling, as they rife!

Here

Here Nectar flows; it sparkles in our fight;

Rich to the Taste, and genuine from the Heart.
High-flavour'd Blifs for Gods! on Earth how rare?
On Earth how loft? Philander is no more.

Think'st thou the Theme intoxicates my Song?
Am I too warm? Too warm I cannot be.

I lov'd him much; but now I love him more.
Like Birds, whofe Beauties languish, half conceal'd
Till mounted on the Wing, their gloffy Plumes
Expanded shine with Azure, Green, and Gold;
How Bleffings brighten as they take their Flight?
His flight Philander took; his Upward Flight,
If ever Soul afcended: Had he dropt,

That Eagle Genius! O had he let fall

One Feather as he flew; I then, had wrote,

What Friends might flatter; prudent Foes forbear;

Rivals scarce damn; and Zoilus reprieve.

Yet what I can I muft; It were profane

To