In
Answer
to
Consolatory
Verses
wrote
by
a
Friend
.
WITH
Ease
Advice
to
virtuous
Woe
we
give
,
But
ah
!
how
few
by
Stoick
Rules
can
live
?
Virtue
distrest
in
melting
Verse
appears
;
Beauteous
in
Misery
,
and
adorn'd
in
Tears
.
But
in
the
World
'tis
view'd
with
other
Eyes
;
Virtue
in
Rags
is
Beauty
in
Disguise
;
And
can
no
more
Contempt
and
Scorn
disarm
,
Then
a
fair
Face
behind
a
Masque
can
charm
.
Whatever
Gifts
we
may
to
Nature
owe
,
Success
is
all
our
Merit
here
below
.
By
Fortune
favour'd
Fools
may
rise
to
Fame
;
Without
it
Virtue
is
an
empty
Name
.