Original - Duke Divinity School
Original - Duke Divinity School
Original - Duke Divinity School
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With Friendship and Esteem possest,<br />
I ne’er admitted Love a Guest.<br />
In all the Habitudes of Life,<br />
The Friend, the Mistress, and the Wife,<br />
Variety we still pursue,<br />
In Pleasure seek for something new: …<br />
But his Pursuits are at an End,<br />
Whom Stella chuses for a Friend. …<br />
Stella, when you these Lines transcribe,<br />
Lest you should take them for a Bribe,<br />
Resolv’d to mortify your Pride,<br />
I’ll here expose your weaker Side.<br />
Your Spirits kindle to a Flame,<br />
Mov’d with the lightest Touch of blame;<br />
And when a friend in kindness tries<br />
To shew you where your Error lies,<br />
Conviction does but more incense;<br />
Perverseness is your Whole Defence: …<br />
Your undiscerning Passion bends<br />
Its Force against your nearest Friends;<br />
Which Manners, Decency, and Pride,<br />
Have taught you from the World to hide:<br />
In vain; for see, your Friend hath brought<br />
To publick Light your only Fault;<br />
And yet a Fault we often find<br />
Mix’d in a noble generous Mind;<br />
And may compare to Etna’s fire,<br />
Which, tho’ with Trembling, all admire;<br />
The Heat that makes the Summit glow,<br />
Enriching all the Vales below. …<br />
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