Reflections on a Clean Shirt.
AIL bright invention! by whofe friendly aid,
This fhirt once more fo decently is made!
Goddefs of arts and induftry arife,
Affert thy legal empire in the skies.
With fmiles behold the falutary rub,
And crown the labours of the daily tub.
But blefs that friend to Covent Garden bloods,
Who first invented proper foap and fuds.
This only fhirt, occafionly white,
May now appear, Lucinda, in thy fight.
The Park once more with credit it may view,
Nor fhrink behind the fable of its hue.
An added air of decency difclofe,
And meet refpect at Hughes's or the Rofe.
Some friend, perhaps, may take it home to dine,
And treat its mafter with a gill of wine.
Thanks to my ftars, it does not look fo mean,
But feems tol-lol, and comfortably clean.
Genius of true benevolence arife,
And mark this æra with indignant eyes,
Where fools are rais'd to livings and to place,
And want of honour dignifies his grace
Where dress in triumph by the follies led
Sets off the mean and despicable head;
And taudry lace finds out the happy art
To gild the fordid baseness of the heart-
Why did I learn in these degen'rate days
To run from folid pudding after praise ?
To hold the mirror to a rascal's eyes,
And lash a rev'rend villain in disguise ?
O that the ftars this bofom could create
Low as my lot, and humble as my fate!
Without one spark of animating fire,
One wish refin'd, or elegant defire!
Then had I paft in opulence my days,
And felt advancement's falutary rays;
Had known the utmoft value of an hour,
And lick'd the footstool of fuperior pow'r:
A villain's crimes had flatter'd and excus'd,
Smil'd when he fmil'd; and, when he frown'd, abus'd.
On modeft worth had infolently trod,
Traduc'd my friend, and fcandaliz'd my GOD.
Thefe, thefe, alas! are now the only ways
To gain preferment or to rife to praise.
These methods now fupport the meanest cause,
And purchase favour, friendship, and applause;
The vileft slave that infamy can brand,
Or midnight murder blacken with a hand,
Who bafely triumph'd o'er the widow's fears,
And laugh'd at helpless innocence in tears,
Whofe very wife, with proftituted charms,
He took, all reeking, from licentious arms,
And ow'd a mean, or defpicable place,
To fomething more than credible difgrace;
Drefs him but well, his company's defir'd,
His life approv'd, his character admir'd,
Protection fmiles complacently on high,
And favourviews him with its fondest eye;
Till, by degrees, to dignity he grows,
And foars to honour bafely as he rose.
Far other fate on modeft worth attends,
Of means bereft, and deftitute of friends;
In this wide world by fortune fet afloat,
The poor poffeffor of an- only coat.
Yet nobly fcorns by infamy to please,
Or rife by fteps fo fcandalous as these.
Tafte to his wants no liberty allows,
But ftares to fee, and reddens if he bows.
And not alone regardlefs of his guife,
Affects to laugh, and publickly despise.
The choice companions of his happier days
Salute with pride's most despicable gaze;
Refufe to fmooth the fharpness of distress,
And blush to meet his fhabbinefs of drefs.
In vain the poor afflicted is poffeft
Of all the virtues of the human breast:
In vain he's honeft, fenfible, and kind,
Politely bred, and modeftly refin'd ;-
eye that shuns, munificent, beftows
A means to purge the scandal of his clothes;
No feeling breaft the least affistance lends,
Because he needs the bounty of his friends ;
In vain 'tis known how greatly he has griev'd,
Because, alas! he wants to be reliev'd!
Yet humble merit never should despair,
But learn to feel, and study how to bear.
Implicit rev'rence the Almighty will,
Nor always think that poverty's an ill.
Be less expert to wound its own repose,
Nor ftrive to raise imaginary woes.
If means of wealth and honour are deny'd,
No world will envy or condemn his pride;
No fawning flave a feign'd respect will pay,
Appear to fmile, and ftudy to betray.
No mind ambitious infolently blame,
Traduce his deeds, and vilify his fame;
If Heav'n's high wisdom has been pleas'd to shed
The humble means to furnish him with bread;
The rifing figh should swell his heart no more;
Or only heave to worship and adore.
Lefs true content, magnificently dreft,
The ermin'd wretch finds center'd in his breaft;
Who owes his boafted confequence and rife
To fteps which truth and virtue fhould despise:
Doom'd by the juice of avenging fate,
To figh in fplendor, and to pine in ftate,
Her sharpeft woes eternal confcience brings,
And wakens guilt to aggravated ftings,
Reflection haunts him in her dread extremes,
And spreads diftra&tion through his midnight dreams,
His flight purfues and follows him behind,
To murder all the comforts of his mind.
While peace holds watch on lowly virtue's door,
And shares fome pleafure to the worthy poor,
Her freshest roses on their pillows ftrews,
And nightly crowns it with a fafe repofe,
Preferves a calm tranquility from hurt,
And gives contentment to an only shirt.
1762
To General Conway on his being made Secretary of State.
【NDAUNTED chief, to Britain dear,
Who late was in difgrace,
Believe me, I am glad to hear,
Your worth has gain'd a place.
How good and gracious, wife and great,
In George your RM
To give you first a broken pate,
And then apply a plaifter,
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