Of the
Knowledge
and Characters of Men.
Pope - Essay on Man
Save me alike from foolish pride,
Or impious discontent,
At aught Thy wisdom has denied,
Or aught Thy goodness lent.
Teach me to feel another's woe,
To hide the fault I see;
That mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me.
Mean though I am, not wholly so,
Since quickened by Thy breath;
Oh, lead me wheresoe'er I go,
Through this day's life or death.
This day, be bread and peace my lot:
All else beneath the sun,
Thou know'st if best bestowed or not;
And let Thy will be done.
To Thee, whose temple is all space,
Whose altar earth, sea, skies,
One chorus let all being raise,
All Nature's incense rise!
MORAL ESSAYS,
IN FOUR EPISTLES TO SEVERAL PERSONS.
Est brevitate opus, ut currat sententia, neu se
Impediat verbis lassas onerantibus aures:
Et sermone opus est modo tristi, saepe jocoso,
Defendente vicem modo Rhetoris atque Poetae,
Interdum urbani, parcentis viribus, atque
Extenuantis eas consulto. --HOR. (Sat. I. X. 9-14. )
EPISTLE I. TO SIR RICHARD TEMPLE, LORD COBHAM.
ARGUMENT.
Of the Knowledge and Characters of Men.
I. That it is not sufficient for this knowledge to consider Man in the
Abstract: Books will not serve the purpose, nor yet our own Experience
singly, v. 1. General maxims, unless they be formed upon both, will be
but notional, v. 10. Some Peculiarity in every man, characteristic to
himself, yet varying from himself, v. 15. Difficulties arising from our
own Passions, Fancies, Faculties, etc. , v. 31. The shortness of Life, to
observe in, and the uncertainty of the Principles of action in men, to
observe by, v. 37, etc. Our own Principle of action often hid from
ourselves, v. 41. Some few Characters plain, but in general confounded,
dissembled, or inconsistent, v.
