THE FOOLISHNESS OF DESIRING APPLAUSE.
UNHAPPINESS must still attend
The man whose heart is bent
To be admir'd by ev'ry one,
So far as he is kent.
Applause of men can ne'er give ease,
Our conscience us informs;
If that we commune with our hearts,
We'll find applause but scorns.
A man of spirit will contemn
The praise of ign'rant men,
And will receive applause for nought,
That conscience won't maintain.
The person who doth you commend,
You'll him consider first,
Before you value his esteem
Whether 'tis false or just.
The praise of him who's ignorant,
It only shews good-will;
This kindness it should be receiv'd,
And thanks returned still:
As he's a neighbour who is good,
Yet cannot judge your action,
Your fame he cannot then defend;
His praise is just affection.
The loose and ungoverned mind,
We much affected see
With approbations of mankind,
Though they promisc'ous be.
A man of virtue always will
So delicate remain;
His appetite is not so strong
As swallow down such fame.
If a great man's possest of worth,
I'll greater be than he,
I in his greatness will rejoice,
That far excelleth me:
His thoughts they surely must proceed
Forth from a gen'rous mind;
The approbation of such thoughts
As true praise is esteem'd.
Among the common rate of men,
There's little they'll commend,
But such as they may have a share
To partake in the end.
The motive sure more glorious is,
When that the mind is set
More to do good and gen'rous things,
Than to receive respect.
Where true sincerity does found
The name that's called good,
All virt'ous men, although unknown,
Will swallow't down as food.
It but a friv'lous pleasure is
For men to be admir'd
And spoke of, when occasion serves,
Just by a gaping crowd.
Applause of crowds makes giddy heads,
Which rather should be sad;
When men of reason do applaud,
It makes the heart right glad.
What makes the love of praise so bad,
Is, that 'tis often giv'n
To those who do not it deserve;
Of this I must complain.
It is not what man doth possess,
But how he does it use,
Will make him worthy of esteem,
And to receive the praise.
The vulgar and the man of sense,
In this they both agree;
They still admire the man who has
What they themselves would hae.
The wise man he does most applaud
The man who's virtuous;
The rest of mankind they applaud
The man who wealthy is.