Enigma
Immur'd in walls of wond'rous strength,
Which scarcely yield to Time at length,
A glorious empire firm I hold,
A value far more rich than gold!
And yet, tho' born to rule the rest,
Off by my subjects I'm opprest;
And when some rebel makes intrusion,
And still the first to feel confusion.
And sometimes bold — and yet so tender,
to a blow I of surrender!
The weapons sharp I dread th' occasion,
At most my terror is Invasion.
Great as I am, which all must own,
Still Industry must share my throne;
And, strange to tell — my constant labours
Are needful to support my neighbours.
Philosophers have highly plac'd me,
Yet sometimes have their works disgrac'd me.
Whene'er to Indolence I yield,
Some foe is sure to take the field.
What care and dignity I claim —
Go ask of Virtue, and of Fame!
ANOTHER .
Strange are my pow'rs — tho' such my mien,
In calm retreats I'm chiefly seen;
Priz'd am I much in each profession,
And still the first to take possession:
Sometimes I help the kitten's sports,
And sometimes make a dash in courts.
My touch (a wonder I unfold)
Has turn'd the meanest scraps to gold!
And ev'n a terror can impart,
To daunt the bravest soldier's heart.
A weapon fierce I sometimes prove,
And sometimes speed the darts of Love.
When guided by the good and wise,
To noblest eminence I rise.
There's nothing — this I'd have you know —
Can soar so high, or sink so low.
'Tis priz'd and valued in the schools —
A trifle, when I dwell with fools;
And worse, when subtle knaves employ me,
Twere then a virtue to destroy me!
This ev'n when mended, I confess,
In sometimes only to transgress. —
Reader, I'm your's — you'll soon descry me,
At twice reflect before you try me.
ANOTHER .
By Science form'd — by Heaven design'd
To sooth the troubles of mankind,
Where Wisdom dwells, with air serene,
Our sober aspect may be seen:
Tho' Ignorance shuns, and Youth may scorn us,
We want no jewels to adorn us;
Like Truth, a brighter beam attends us,
Than all the pomp of Grandeur lends us.
The silent, solitary room,
We cheer, with all its dismal gloom!
With gen'rous care we sooth the lot,
Whether in palace or in cot;
And clear the dark and devious way,
Where blund'ring mortals oft wou'd stray.
The mists of Error fly before us,
And Truth does all things — but adore us!
Yet mild and friendly as we are,
Were held as bugbears by the fair;
Like Gorgons head, when Beauty spies us,
Oft with impetuous speed it flies us.
Stop, stop rash Maid! for Time as swift,
Shall shew the value of the gift.
When tears shall dim those radiant eyes,
And Ev'ning veils these Summer skies,
All know! when darker days succeed,
Our friendship shall be priz'd indeed!
ANOTHER .
Ours in my care the brightest Nymph may rest,
In in walls, no Beau shall dare molest;
Check'd tho' he be, concern her fate shall move,
Kinder than Friendship, and more pure than Love.
No visitor on earth, that man can see,
E'er taught, instructed, or reclaim'd like me!
Strange, what I spoil, is oft what most I mend —
Stern as a foe, but faithful as a friend.
Which scarcely yield to Time at length,
A glorious empire firm I hold,
A value far more rich than gold!
And yet, tho' born to rule the rest,
Off by my subjects I'm opprest;
And when some rebel makes intrusion,
And still the first to feel confusion.
And sometimes bold — and yet so tender,
to a blow I of surrender!
The weapons sharp I dread th' occasion,
At most my terror is Invasion.
Great as I am, which all must own,
Still Industry must share my throne;
And, strange to tell — my constant labours
Are needful to support my neighbours.
Philosophers have highly plac'd me,
Yet sometimes have their works disgrac'd me.
Whene'er to Indolence I yield,
Some foe is sure to take the field.
What care and dignity I claim —
Go ask of Virtue, and of Fame!
ANOTHER .
Strange are my pow'rs — tho' such my mien,
In calm retreats I'm chiefly seen;
Priz'd am I much in each profession,
And still the first to take possession:
Sometimes I help the kitten's sports,
And sometimes make a dash in courts.
My touch (a wonder I unfold)
Has turn'd the meanest scraps to gold!
And ev'n a terror can impart,
To daunt the bravest soldier's heart.
A weapon fierce I sometimes prove,
And sometimes speed the darts of Love.
When guided by the good and wise,
To noblest eminence I rise.
There's nothing — this I'd have you know —
Can soar so high, or sink so low.
'Tis priz'd and valued in the schools —
A trifle, when I dwell with fools;
And worse, when subtle knaves employ me,
Twere then a virtue to destroy me!
This ev'n when mended, I confess,
In sometimes only to transgress. —
Reader, I'm your's — you'll soon descry me,
At twice reflect before you try me.
ANOTHER .
By Science form'd — by Heaven design'd
To sooth the troubles of mankind,
Where Wisdom dwells, with air serene,
Our sober aspect may be seen:
Tho' Ignorance shuns, and Youth may scorn us,
We want no jewels to adorn us;
Like Truth, a brighter beam attends us,
Than all the pomp of Grandeur lends us.
The silent, solitary room,
We cheer, with all its dismal gloom!
With gen'rous care we sooth the lot,
Whether in palace or in cot;
And clear the dark and devious way,
Where blund'ring mortals oft wou'd stray.
The mists of Error fly before us,
And Truth does all things — but adore us!
Yet mild and friendly as we are,
Were held as bugbears by the fair;
Like Gorgons head, when Beauty spies us,
Oft with impetuous speed it flies us.
Stop, stop rash Maid! for Time as swift,
Shall shew the value of the gift.
When tears shall dim those radiant eyes,
And Ev'ning veils these Summer skies,
All know! when darker days succeed,
Our friendship shall be priz'd indeed!
ANOTHER .
Ours in my care the brightest Nymph may rest,
In in walls, no Beau shall dare molest;
Check'd tho' he be, concern her fate shall move,
Kinder than Friendship, and more pure than Love.
No visitor on earth, that man can see,
E'er taught, instructed, or reclaim'd like me!
Strange, what I spoil, is oft what most I mend —
Stern as a foe, but faithful as a friend.
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