Classic Poem

ON READING THE FOREGOING .

If you would know, my dearest friend,
The man whose merit may pretend
To gain my heart, that yet is free,
Him that's made for love and me:

His mind shou'd be his chiefest care,
All his inprovements centre there,
From each unmanly passion free;
That is the man who's made for me.

Whose generous bosom goodness warms,
Whom sacred virtue ever charms,
Who to no vice a slave will be;
This is the man who's made for me.

Whose tongue can easily impart
The dictates of his honest heart,
In plain good sense; from flattery free;
Such he must be who's made for me.

He alone can love inspire,
Who feels the warmth of friendship's fire;
Humane and generous, kind and free;
That is the man who's made for me.

If such an one, my friend, e'er tries
To make me his by strictest ties,
The study of my life shall be,
To please the man so dear to me.

Ye powder'd beaux, from me retire,
Who only your dear selves admire;
Though deck'd in richest lace you be,
No tinsel'd fop has charms for me.