11

O!  Mary, let not empty shew,
Let not the pride of gaudy dress,
Thus cloud thy morn of life with woe,
And blight it’s future happiness.

12

Trust the monition Baldwin gave,
Our future bliss it’s truth shall prove,
Life’s cares the Lovers who dare brave,
Shall find their rich reward in Love: 

13

Baldwin, the hoary-headed Bard,
I still consult when cares annoy: 
He own’d for me a fond regard;
And calls me still his darling Boy.

14

His mind is fraught with spoils of Time;
He’s wise and good, though known to few;
He gave me this advice in rhyme,
And here I’ll read the Song to you:—­

15

“Though envious Age affects to deem thee Boy,
Lose not one day, one hour, of proffer’d bliss;
In youth grasp every unoffending joy,
And wing’d with rapture snatch the bridal kiss.

16

“Let not this chief of blessings be deferr’d,
Till you your humble fortunes can improve;
None’s poor but he, by sordid fears deterr’d,
Who dares not claim the matchless wealth of Love.

17

“Virtue can make most rich thy little store;
Virtue can make most bright thy lowly state: 
Murmur not then that virtuous thou art poor,
While prosperous Vice can make men rich and great.

18

“The bad man may, his every sense to please,
Each soft indulging luxury employ: 
The plenitude of elegance and ease
He may possess; but never can enjoy.

19

“No ... though his goods, and flocks, and herds abound;
His wide demesne to fair profusion grown;
Though proud his lofty mansion looks around,
On hills, and fields, and forests, all his owns

20

“Tho’ this may tempt thee, murmuring to complain,
With conscience clear, and life void of offence,
’Verily, then, I’ve cleans’d my heart in vain;
In vain have wash’d my hands in Innocence.’

21

“Yet could’st thou closely mark the envied Man,
See how desires ungovern’d mar his peace;
Or had’st thou power his inward mind to scan,
How soon in pity would thy envy cease!

22

“Envenom’d Passions all his thoughts unhinge! 
The Slave of Vice must thy companion move;
If still he burns with thirst of dire Revenge,
Lawless Ambition, or unhallow’d Love.

23

“’Midst gayest scenes he wean a gloomy frown: 
Vain is the splendour that his dome adorns;
While he reclines on silky heaps of down,
His tortur’d mind is weltering on thorns.

24

“To prove that man opprest with mental pain,
The goods of Fortune have no power to please,
Even Suicide has oft been known to stain
The downy couch of most luxurious case.

25

“The active life of Labour gives no room
To that dull spleen the Indolent endure;
Generous cares dispel our mental gloom,
And Industry is Melancholy’s cure.