No More Learning

See some strange comfort every state attend,
And pride bestowed on all, a common friend;
See some fit passion every age supply,
Hope travels through, nor quits us when we die.
Behold the child, by Nature's kindly law,
Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw:
Some livelier plaything gives his youth delight,
A little louder, but as empty quite:
Scarves, garters, gold, amuse his riper stage,
And beads and prayer-books are the toys of age:
Pleased with this bauble still, as that before;
Till tired he sleeps, and life's poor play is o'er.
Meanwhile opinion gilds with varying rays
Those painted clouds that beautify our days;
Each want of happiness by hope supplied,
And each vacuity of sense by pride:
These build as fast as knowledge can destroy;
In folly's cup still laughs the bubble, joy;
One prospect lost, another still we gain;
And not a vanity is given in vain;
Even mean self-love becomes, by force divine,
The scale to measure others' wants by thine.
See! and confess, one comfort still must rise,
'Tis this, though man's a fool, yet God is wise.


ARGUMENT OF EPISTLE III.


Of the Nature and State of Man with respect to Society.

I. The whole Universe one system of Society, v. 7, etc. Nothing made
wholly for itself, nor yet wholly for another, v. 27. The happiness of
Animals mutual, v. 49. II.
Reason or Instinct operate alike to the good
of each Individual, v. 79. Reason or Instinct operate also to Society, in
all Animals, v. 109. III. How far Society carried by Instinct, v. 115. How
much farther by Reason, v. 128. IV. Of that which is called the State of
Nature, v. 144. Reason instructed by Instinct in the invention of Arts,
v. 166, and in the Forms of Society, v. 176. V.