O! yet those gleams of joy display, In vain the maids of Memory fair And in thy breast this mortal find; Her sunshine on the mind. WILLIAM KENRICK. -1779. Kenrick's memory will be perpetuated by the slight mention which Goldsmith makes of him in his Poem of "RETALIATION," his own efforts were not the best directed for the accomplishment of that purpose; for he lived in a state of warfare, and died unregretted by his contemporaries. The Force of Prejudice A FABLE. The Hint from Helvetius. ONCE on a time, or story lies, A Deity forsook the skies; And rambling, curious, up and down, Where lived a tribe of mortals black, The comely God, well-shaped and fair, This gave a kick, and that a thump; The females too, among the rest, Their detestation had express'd; While luscious jokes were cut and crack'd, Eager each flirt to have a fling, At such a pale faced ugly thing. Nay, heaven knows where their taunts had ended, But so, it chanced, a sober sage And knew, from reason consequential, He thus, the stranger to protect, "No object this of ridicule. "It might have been your fate or mine, "To want the human hump divine ; "And each of us, an ugly sight, "Might have flat-shoulder'd been and white: "If therefore heaven, to us so kind, "Give the protub rance behind, "Thanks to the Gods with fervour pray, "But send this wretch unhurt away." The mob on every word intent, With some few murmurings gave consent; "On earth a welcome wouldst thou find, "Go hence and learn to know mankind. · "In other lands thy form and face, "May challenge comliness and grace; "But here to beauty are we blind, "If wanting of a hump behind. "Thus every nation, every tribe, "Peculiar sentiments imbibe; "And beauty, virtue, sense, lay claim "To little more than empty name; " Varied in every clime and nation, "As suits the general situation. "Hence, judging each by different rules, "They think each other knaves or fools; "While no defect or vice is known, "Unless it differs from their own. "To turn the shafts of scorn aside, "Then take this maxim for your guide: "Go where you will, be sure to wear "The general hump the people bear : |