THE BOROUGII. LETTER XIV. INHABITANTS OF THE ALMS-HOUSE. BLANEY. Sed quia cæcus inest vitiis amor, omne futurum Claudian. in Eutrop. Nunquam parvo contenta peracta Et quæsitorum terrâ pelagoque ciborum Et Luxus, populator Opum, tibi semper adhærens, Claudian. in Rufinum. Behold what blessing wealth to life can lend ! Pope. Blaney, a wealthy Heir, dissipated, and reduced to Poverty-His Fortune restored by Marriage: again consumedHis Manner of living in the West Indies-Recalled to a larger Inheritance-His more refined and expensive Luxuries-His Method of quieting Conscience-Death of his Wife-Again become poor-His Method of supporting Existence His Ideas of Religion-His Habits and Connexions when old—Admitted into the Alms-House. THE BOROUGH. LETTER XIV. LIFE OF BLANEY. OBSERVE that tall pale veteran! what a look Much innate vileness and some outward grace; Hark to that laughter!-'tis the way he takes These years with grievous crimes we need not load, Gamed without skill, without inquiry bought, Was Hounslow Dick, who drove the western stage. Profuse, not just, and careless, but not kind. In wasting guineas ere he saw his last ; And he was taught, by those whom he would call While thus he thought, still waiting for the day, When he should dare to blow his brains away, A place for him a kind relation found, Where England's monarch ruled, but far from English ground; He gave employ that might for bread suffice, Correct his habits and restrain his vice. Here Blaney tried (what such man's miseries teach) To find what pleasures were within his reach; And laugh'd at Time till he had turn'd them grey: What could he now ?-The man had tried before But vice must now be season'd and refined; VOL. II. |