The Compliment Qualified

To wed a fool, I really cannot see Why thou, Eliza, art so very loth; Still on a par with other pairs you'd be, Since thou hast wit and sense enough for both.

First published in Morning Post, Dec. 26, 1801. First collected 1893. The title referred to an epigram published in M. P. Dec. 24, 1801.

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[The twenty-one 'Original Epigrams' following were printed in the Morning Post, in September and October, 1802, over the signature '+ESTÊSE+'. They were included in Essays, &c., iii. 978-86, and were first collected in P. and D. W., 1877, ii. 171-8.]

What is an Epigram? a dwarfish whole, Its body brevity, and wit its soul.

First published in Morning Post, Sept. 23, 1802. Included in Poetical Register, 1802 (1803), ii. 253; and in The Friend, No. 12, Nov. 9, 1809. Cf. Wernicke's Beschaffenheit der Überschriften (i. e. The Nature of the epigram), Bk. I, No. 1.

'Dann lässt die Überschrift kein Leser aus der Acht, Wenn in der Kürz' ihr Leib, die Seel' in Witz bestehet.'

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Charles, grave or merry, at no lie would stick, And taught at length his memory the same trick. Believing thus what he so oft repeats, He's brought the thing to such a pass, poor youth, That now himself and no one else he cheats, Save when unluckily he tells the truth.

First published in Morning Post, Sept. 23, 1802. Included in P. R. 1802, ii. 317, and The Friend, No. 12, Nov. 9, 1809.

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An evil spirit's on thee, friend! of late! Ev'n from the hour thou cam'st to thy Estate. Thy mirth all gone, thy kindness, thy discretion, Th' estate hath prov'd to thee a most complete possession. Shame, shame, old friend! would'st thou be truly best, Be thy wealth's Lord, not slave! possessor not possess'd.

First published in Morning Post, Sept. 23, 1802. Included in P. R. 1802, ii. 317, and The Friend, No. 12, Nov. 9, 1809.

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Here lies the Devil--ask no other name. Well--but you mean Lord----? Hush! we mean the same.

First published in Morning Post, Sept. 23, 1802. Included in P. R. 1802, ii. 363, and The Friend, No. 12, Nov. 9, 1809.

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TO ONE WHO PUBLISHED[964:1] IN PRINT WHAT HAD BEEN ENTRUSTED TO HIM BY MY FIRESIDE

Two things hast thou made known to half the nation, My secrets and my want of penetration: For O! far more than all which thou hast penn'd It shames me to have call'd a wretch, like thee, my friend!

First published in Morning Post, Sept. 23, 1802. Adapted from Wernicke's Epigrams (Bk. I, No. 12), An einen falschen Freund. 'Weil ich mich dir vertraut, eh' ich dich recht gekennet.'

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'Obscuri sub luce maligna.'--VIRG.

Scarce any scandal, but has a handle; In truth most falsehoods have their rise; Truth first unlocks Pandora's box, And out there fly a host of lies. Malignant light, by cloudy night, To precipices it decoys one! One nectar-drop from Jove's own shop Will flavour a whole cup of poison.

First published in Morning Post, Sept. 23, 1802.

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Old Harpy jeers at castles in the air, And thanks his stars, whenever Edmund speaks, That such a dupe as that is not his heir-- But know, old Harpy! that these fancy freaks, Though vain and light, as floating gossamer, Always amuse, and sometimes mend the heart: A young man's idlest hopes are still his pleasures, And fetch a higher price in Wisdom's mart Than all the unenjoying Miser's treasures.

First published in Morning Post, Sept. 23, 1802. Included in P. R., 1802, ii. 868. Adapted from Wernicke, Bk. VII, No. 40, An einen Geizhals.

'Steht's einem Geizhals an auf Aelius zu schmähn Weil er vergebens hofft auf was nicht kann geschehn?'

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