To a Lady. with a Book of Morality, Entitled "Visions."

" SO strong the passions of the human mind, " To truth reluctant, and to reason blind; " These rules, compar'd with real life, must seem " All airy visions, and an empty dream: " For when a plan of conduct we would draw, " That dares the critic's eye to show a flaw, " Fancy may wish its antitype to see, " And feast upon its charms in theory; " Yet still in practice all our hopes are vain, " To realize this image of the brain." Thus, foe to nature, spoke the gloomy sage; But let his labour'd lines inform the page; Let him exhaust his genius to display, Truth's pleasant path, and virtue's peaceful way: Each moral rule with energy dispense, That forms the conduct, or improves the sense: Still must philosophy renounce the prize, Still nature must to art superior rise; For nature now triumphantly can show A living instance of those rules in you.