To the Reverend Mr. Sam. Chandler. On WISDOM. Mary Chandler Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T63103 Chandler, Mary, 1687-1745. The Description Of Bath. A Poem. Humbly Inscribed To Her Royal Highness the Princess Amelia. By Mrs. Mary Chandler. The Third Edition. To which are added, Several Poems by the same Author [poems only]. London Printed for James Leake, Bookseller in Bath 1736 pp. 36-39. 77p.

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To the Reverend Mr. Sam. Chandler . On WISDOM . Farewel a while to mortal Things — To Wisdom now I strike my Strings , And tune the warbling Lyre . Oh for thy Influence from above , Fountain of Light , and God of Love ; Do thou my Breast inspire ! 'Tis not the Politician's Art , Who makes his injur'd Country smart , To fill his Chests with Gold ; Nor all his cunning Craft , to gain Pleasures and Honours false and vain , For which his Peace is sold . No , I would sing a nobler Theme : His Wisdom is an idle Dream , That flies him when awake . The guilty Soul with keen Remorse Finds all his Gains repaid with Loss , And curses his Mistake . WISDOM is Truth without Disguise : Clear as the Sun in cloudless Skies , The wise Man's Actions shine . No Scrutiny can hurt his Name , Or base Discovery give him Shame Of Fraud , or mean Design . WISDOM is pure as Gold refin'd ; No sensual Stain deforms the Mind , Or damps the rising Joys . No raging Appetite on Fire , Or Torment from impure Desire , Or Health , or Peace destroys . The wise Man gives to all their Due ; Just to himself , and Neighbour too . And takes an honest Care , To pay his Sov'reign's rightful Claim ; Consults his Fortune and his Fame , His Family and Heir . No Terror from the Law he feels ; No threat'ning Want pursues his Heels , Nor frightful Dun he fears . Secure he walks where-e'er he goes , No Want of Friend or Credit knows , No keen Reproach he hears . WISDOM's diffusive as the Light ; Fertile with Blessings heav'nly bright , Kind Source of Peace and Joy . Relieves the Wretch oppress'd with Pain , And chears like the refreshing Rain , When scorching Griefs annoy . This bore the Name in Ages past , And will be Wisdom at the last , When Time itself shall cease . When the curst sensual Fool shall find Nothing to fill his hungry Mind , And wish , in vain , for Peace . This from the Source of Glory came , And gives true Grandeur , endless Fame , Still blooming young and fair . Not lost by envious tainted Breath , But springs yet fresher after Death In the celestial Air . May all our Lives this Wisdom guide ! May Love to God and Man divide The Hours that swiftly fly ! While sweet Reflection on the past , And chearful Prospect of the last , Shall ev'ry Grief defy .