My Muse, like your weather-cock, turns round its joint;
But she never fixes at any one point.

If hopeless in love, you should torments endure,
Take absence and time-they'll most certainly cure.

Who strives to get, and strives to save,
In ten years time will riches have.

We'll allow you to fret at what evils betide,
Except what you can and you cannot avoid.

If to old age you would he bless'd,
Let peace of mind possess your breast.

Have you a wife who murders peace?
Be silent, and her tongue will cease.

If you no enemy would make,
Against another never speak.

Reeds bend their long back, a rush stands the wind's rage;
Thus tall men the soonest bend under old age.

'Trade makes the man,' some have debated;
But 'tis when he's that trade created.

You talk much of chastity; who can abuse it,
When she who's the owner on't wishes to lose it?

Our honour stands fair till temptations abound;
Then honour, like echo, is all empty sound.

To fear no man should be a stranger;
This tends to keep us out of danger.
For if a dog-fight you'd be in,
Perhaps may meet a broken shin.

The grand support of life in hope is found;
Just as the body's held up by the ground.

Trust your cash with a rogue who has riches o'er grown,
Before him, who though honest, has none of his own.

A rose, a bright guinea, and beautiful lass,
Are the finest of pictures--but away soonest pass.

A conscience and a cabbage net
Are by one rule attended;
They'll narrow to an inch, and yet
May widely be extended.

If he who speaks has interest in the case,
Suspect at least one half the words he says.
He who of honour boasts away,
And she who boasts her virtue,
Give reason to suspect that they
Tell neither him nor her true.
What can the married state excel,
When both love equal, both love well?
Is Tommy naught? give a frown, word, or nod,
But never, never, treat him with the rod.
Or if he well performs what you intend,
Give him due praises, and he'll strive to mend.
He whose theme is divine, and whose actions are wrong,
Proves religion is solely confin'd to his tongue.
Despise no bodily defect,
Favour'd or not with pelf,
Except the owner, by neglect,
Made that defect himself.
Of the two sexes' love, 'tis said,
(Disprove it if you can,)
Woman loves least before she's wed,
But, after wed, the man.
Some diff'rence a loving wife soon can discover,
Between a man when he's wed and when a lover:
While a lover he smiles, and will let a yes go;
When a husband he frowns, with the little word--No.
Your mild replies, if you but hold in,
Will never make, but cure a scolding.
After a quarrel, while you live,
Let the next business be--forgive.
From pride bright actions rise, 'tis justly said.--
The tulip rises from a filthy bed.
From human minds important trifles spring,
Like empty bubbles floating on the wing.
The child, at four, is pleas'd with taw and ball;
I, at fourscore, to view a broken wall!
Time changes our passions--dress in youth is the rage;
A mode most compleatly despis'd in old age.
Some proud of humility are found;
Thus the lac'd shoe treads on the dirty ground.
Religions treat kindly whatever the case is;
Men have reason to vary, as much as in faces.
The man inur'd to court soft ease,
Need do no more to court disease.
Ne'er waste your fortune like a careless drone,
Except you'll be contented when 'tis gone.
If you would be happy, this truth never doubt ye,
Attempt to make happy the people about ye.
For fear in wrath you play the fool,
Take four-and-twenty hours to cool.
If you're charm'd with Miss Beauty, be charm'd at a distance,
If you'd lead to the altar, give Miss Prudence assistance.