Pick out of Mirth, like Stones out of thy Ground,
Profaneness, Filthiness, Abusiveness.

These are the Scum, with which Course Wits abound:
The Fine may fpare these well, yet not go lefs.
All Things are big with Jeft: nothing that's plain
But may be witty, if thou haft the Vein.

Wit's an unruly Engine, wildly ftriking
Sometimes a Friend, fometimes the Engineer;
Haft thou the Knack? pamper it not with liking:
But if thou want it, buy it not too dear.

Many affecting Wit beyond their Power,
Have got to be a dear Fool for an Hour.

A fad wife Valour is the brave Complexion,
That leads the Van, and swallows up the Cities.
The Gigler is a Milk-maid, whom Infection
Or a fir'd Beacon frighteth from his Ditties.

Then he's the Sport: the Mirth then in him refts,
And the fad Man is cock of all his Jefts.

Towards great Perfons use respective Boldness:
That Temper gives them theirs, and yet doth take
Nothing from thine. In Service, Care, or Coldness,
Doth ratably thy Fortunes mar or make.

Feed no Man in his Sins: for Adulation
Doth make thee parcel-devil in Damnation.

Envy not Greatnefs: for thou mak'st thereby
Thy felf the worfe, and fo the Distance greater,,
Be not thine own Worm: Yet fuch Jealousy,
As hurts not others, but may make thee better,
Is a good Spur. Correct thy Paffions Spite;
Then may the Beafts draw thee to happy Light.

. When

When Baseness is exalted, do not bate
The Place its Honour for the Perfon's fake,
The Shrine is that which thou doft venerate
And not the Beast, that bears it on his Back.

I care not though the Cloth of State fhould be
Not of rich Arras, but mean Tapestry.

Thy Friend put in thy Bofom: Wear his Eyes
Still in thy Heart, that he may fee what's there.
If Caufe require, thou art his Sacrifice;

Thy Drops of Blood must pay down all his Fear;
But Love is loft, the Way of Friendfhip's gon,
Though David had his Fonathan, Chrift his John.
Yet be not Surety, if thou be a Father.
Love is a Perfonal Debt. I cannot give

My Childrens Right, nor ought he take it: Rather
Both Friends fhould die, than hinder them to live.
Fathers first enter Bonds to Natures Ends;
And are her Şureties, e'er they are a Friend's.
If thou be fingle, all thy Good and Ground
Submit to Love; but yet not more than all.
Give one Eftate, as one Life. None is bound
To work for Two, who brought himself to Thrall.
God made me one Man; Love makes me no more,
Till Labour come and make my Weakness score.
In thy Difcourfe, if thou defire to please,
All fuch is courteous, ufeful, new, or witty,
Usefulness comes by Labour, Wit by Eafe;
Courtely grows in Court, News in the City."
Get a good flock of thefe, then draw the Card
That fuits him beft, of whom thy Speech is heard.

Entice all neatly to what they know best

For fo thou doft thy felf and him a Pleasure :
But a proud Ignorance will lofe his Reft,

Rather than fhew his Cards: fteal from his Treasures

What

What to ask further. Doubts well rais'd, do lock
The speaker to thee, and preferve thy stock.

If thou be mafter-gunner, fpend not all
That thou canft fpeak at once; but husband it,
And give Men turns of fpeech: Do not foreftal
By lavishness thine own and others wit,

As if thou mad'ft thy will. A civil gueft"
Will no more talk all, than eat all the feast.

Be calm in arguing: For fierceness makes
Error a fault, and truth difcourtesy.
Why fhould I feel another man's mistakes
More than his fickneffes or poverty?

In love I fhould; but anger is not love,
Nor wisdom neither; therefore gently move.

Calmness is great advantage: He that lets
Another chafe, may warm him at his fire:
Mark all his wand'rings, and enjoy his frets;
As cunning fencers fuffer heat to tire.

(there Truth dwells not in the clouds: The bow that's Doth often aim at, never hit the sphere.

Mark what another fays: For many are
Full of themselves, and answer their own notion.
Take all into thee; then with equal care,
Ballance each dram of Reason, like a potion.

If truth be with thy friend, be with them both;
Share in the conqueft, and confess a troth.

Be useful where thou liveft, that they may
Both want and wish thy pleasing presence still.
Kindness, good parts, great places, are the way
To compass this. Find out mens wants and will,
And meet them there. All worldly joys go lefs
To the one joy of doing kindnesses.

B

wwene Pitch

Pitch thy behaviour low, thy project high;
So fhalt thou humble and magnanimous be:
Sink not in fpirit; who aimeth at the sky,
Shoots higher much, than he that means a tree.
A grain of glory mix'd with humbleness
Cures both a Fever, and Lethargickness.

Let thy mind still be bent, ftill plotting where,
And when, and how the bufinefs may be done.
Slackness breeds worms; but the fure traveller,
Though he alights fometimes, ftill goeth on.
Active and itirring fpirits live alone.

Write on the others, Here lies fuch an one.
Slight not the smallest lofs, whether it be
In love or honour; take accouut of all:
Shine like the fun in every corner: See
Whether thy flock of credit fwell or fall.
Who fay, I care not, thofe I give for loft;
And to instruct them, 'twill not quit the coft.

Scorn no man's love, though of a mean degree;
Love is a prefent for a mighty King;
Much lefs make any one thine enemy,
As guns deftroy, fo may a little fling.
The cunning workman never doth refuse
The meaneft tool, that he may chance to use.

All foreign wildom doth amount to this,
To take all that is given; whether wealth,
Or love, or language, nothing comes amifs;
A good digeftion turneth all to health:

And then, as far as fair behaviour may,
Strike off all scores; none are so clear as they.

Keep all thy native good, and naturalize
All foreign of that name; but fcorn their ill,
Embrace their activeness, not vanities.
Who follows all things, forfeiteth his will.

If

If thou obferveft ftrangers in each fit,
In time they'll run thee out of all thy wit.

Affect in things about thee cleanliness,
That all may gladly board thee, as a flower.
Slovens take up their flock of noisomness
Beforehand, and anticipate their last hour.
Let thy minds sweetness have its operation
Upon thy body, clothes, and habitation,

In Alms regard thy means, and others merit.
Think Heav'n a better bargain, than to give
Only thy fingle market-mony for it.

Joyn hands with God to make a man to live.
Give to all fomething; to a good poor man,
Till thou change Names, and be where he began.

Man is God's image; but a poor man is
Chrift's stamp to boot; both images regard.
God reckons for him, counts the favour his.
Write, So much giv'n to God; thou shalt be heard.
Let thy alms go before, and keep heav'ns gate
Open for thee; or both may come too late.

Reftore to God his due in tithe and time
A tithe purloin'd, cankers the whole estate.
Sundays obferve: Think when the Bells do chime,
'Tis Angels Mufick; therefore come not late.
God then deals bleffings; if a King did so,
Who would not hafle, nay give, to fee the fhow?

Twice on the day his dew is understood,
For all the week thy food so oft he gave thee.
Thy chear is mended; bate not of the food,
Because 'tis better, and perhaps may fave thee.
Thwart not th' Almighty God; O be not crofs.
Faft when thou wilt, but then 'tis gain, not lofs.
Bt 2
Though