Moral Essays

Moral Essays (also known as Epistles to Several Persons) is a series of four poems on ethical subjects by Alexander Pope, published between 1731 and 1735. Epistle I, To Lord Cobham (1734) The fate of all extremes is such,Men may read, as well as books, too much.To observations which ourselves we make,We grow more partial for th' observer's sake. Line 9. That each from other differs, first confess;Next, that he varies from himself no less. Line 19. Like following life through creatures you dissect,You lose it in the moment you detect. Line 29. In vain sedate reflections we would makeWhen half our knowledge we must snatch, not take. Line 39. Not always actions show the man: we findWho does a kindness is not therefore kind. Line 109. Who combats bravely is not therefore brave,He dreads a death-bed like the meanest slave:Who reasons wisely is not therefore wise,—His pride in reasoning, not in acting lies. Line 115. 'Tis from high life high characters are drawn;A saint in crape is twice a saint in lawn. Line 135. 'Tis education forms the common mind:Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined. Line 149. Manners with fortunes, humours turn with climes,Tenets with books, and principles with times. Line 172. Compare: "Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis" (translated: "All things change, and we change with them"), Matthias Borbonius, Deliciæ Poetarum Germanorum, i, 685. "Odious! in woollen! 't would a saint provoke",Were the last words that poor Narcissa spoke. Line 246. And you, brave Cobham! to the latest breathShall feel your ruling passion strong in death. Line 262. Epistle II, To Mrs. M. Blount (1735) Nothing so true as what you once let fall,"Most women have no characters at all". Line 1. Whether the charmer sinner it or saint it,If folly grow romantic, I must paint it. Line 15. Choose a firm cloud before it fall, and in itCatch, ere she change, the Cynthia of this minute. Line 19. Fine by defect, and delicately weak. Line 43. Compare: "That air and harmony of shape express, Fine by degrees, and beautifully less", Matthew Prior, Henry and Emma. Chaste to her husband, frank to all beside,A teeming mistress, but a barren bride. Line 71. Wise wretch! with pleasures too refined to please;With too much spirit to be e'er at ease;With too much quickness ever to be taught;With too much thinking to have common thought.You purchase pain with all that joy can give,And die of nothing but a rage to live. Line 95. Atossa, cursed with every granted prayer,Childless with all her children, wants an heir;To heirs unknown descends the unguarded store,Or wanders heaven-directed to the poor. Line 147. "With ev'ry pleasing, ev'ry prudent part,Say, what can Chloe want?" — She wants a heart. Line 159. Virtue she finds too painful an endeavour,Content to dwell in decencies forever. Line 163. In men, we various ruling passions find;In women, two almost divide the kind;Those, only fixed, they first or last obey,The love of pleasure, and the love of sway. Line 207. Men, some to business, some to pleasure take;But every woman is at heart a rake. Line 215. See how the world its veterans rewards!A youth of frolics, an old age of cards. Line 243. Oh, blest with temper whose unclouded rayCan make to-morrow cheerful as to-day! Line 257. She who ne'er answers till a husband cools,Or, if she rules him, never shows she rules;Charms by accepting, by submitting, sways,Yet has her humor most, when she obeys. Line 261. And mistress of herself though china fall. Line 268. And yet, believe me, good as well as ill,Woman's at best a contradiction still. Line 269. Epistle III, To Lord Bathurst (1732) Who shall decide when doctors disagree,And soundest casuists doubt, like you and me? Line 1. Blest paper-credit! last and best supply!That lends corruption lighter wings to fly. Line 39. P. What riches give us let us then inquire:Meat, fire, and clothes. B. What more? P. Meat, fine clothes, and fire. Line 79. But thousands die, without this or that,Die, and endow a college, or a cat. Line 95. The ruling passion, be it what it will,The ruling passion conquers reason still. Line 153. Extremes in Nature equal good produce;Extremes in man concur to general use. Line 161. Rise, honest muse! and sing The Man of Ross. Line 250. Ye little stars! hide your diminish'd rays. Line 282. Compare: "At whose sight all the stars / Hide their diminish’d heads", John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book iv, Line 34. Who builds a church to God and not to fame,Will never mark the marble with his name. Line 285. In the worst inn's worst room, with mat half hung. Line 299. Where London's column, pointing at the skies,Like a tall bully, lifts the head and lies. Line 339. But Satan now is wiser than of yore,And tempts by making rich, not making poor. Line 351. Epistle IV, To Lord Burlington (1731) Good sense, which only is the gift of Heaven,And though no science, fairly worth the seven. Line 43. Tis use alone that sanctifies expense,And splendor borrows all her rays from sense. Ver. 180. To rest, the cushion and soft dean invite,Who never mentions hell to ears polite. Line 149. Compare: "In the reign of Charles II, a certain worthy divine at Whitehall thus addressed himself to the auditory at the conclusion of his sermon: 'In short, if you don't live up to the precepts of the Gospel, but abandon yourselves to your irregular appetites, you must expect to receive your reward in a certain place which 'tis not good manners to mention here'", Tom Brown, Laconics. Epistle VII, To Mr. Addison (1720) Oh, when shall Britain, conscious of her claim,Stand emulous of Greek and Roman fame?In living medals see her wars enroll'd,And vanquished realms supply recording gold? Line 53 Statesman, yet friend to truth! of soul sincere,In action faithful, and in honor clear;Who broke no promise, served no private end,Who gained no title, and who lost no friend. Line 67 External links Category:Poetry Category:Works by Alexander Pope