Act well your part, there all the honour lies.
But blind to former as to future fate, what mortal knows his pre-existent state?
Oft in dreams invention we bestow to change a flounce or add a furbelow.
The bookful blockhead ignorantly read, With loads of learned lumber in his head, With his own tongue still edifies his ears, And always list'ning to himself appears. All books he reads, and all he reads assails.
A man of business may talk of philosophy; a man who has none may practice it.
Be thou the first true merit to befriend, his praise is lost who stays till all commend.