The soul's calm sunshine, and the heartfelt joy.
Many men have been capable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing, but very few a generous thing.
To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart; To make mankind, in conscious virtue bold, Live o'er each Seene, and be what they behold: For this the Tragic Muse first trod the stage.
And write about it, Goddess, and about it!
The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read With loads of learned lumber in his head.
Statesman, yet friend to truth! of soul sincere, In action faithful, and in honour clear; Who broke no promise, serv'd no private end, Who gain'd no title, and who lost no friend.