THE
CHAMELEON
.
As
the
Chameleon
,
who
is
known
To
have
no
Colors
of
his
own
;
But
borrows
from
his
Neighbour's
Hue
His
White
or
Black
,
his
Green
or
Blew
;
And
struts
as
much
in
ready
Light
,
Which
Credit
gives
Him
upon
Sight
;
As
if
the
Rain-bow
were
in
Tail
Settl'd
on
Him
,
and
his
Heirs
Male
:
So
the
young
'Squire
,
when
first
He
comes
From
Country
School
to
Will's
or
Tom's
;
And
equally
,
in
Truth
,
is
fit
To
be
a
Statesman
,
or
a
Wit
;
Without
one
Notion
of
his
own
,
He
Santers
wildly
up
and
down
;
'Till
some
Acquaintance
,
good
or
bad
,
Takes
notice
of
a
staring
Lad
;
Admits
Him
in
among
the
Gang
:
They
jest
,
reply
,
dispute
,
harangue
:
He
acts
and
talks
,
as
They
befriend
Him
,
Smear'd
with
the
Colors
,
which
They
lend
Him
.
Thus
merely
,
as
his
Fortune
chances
,
His
Merit
,
or
his
Vice
advances
.
If
happly
He
the
Sect
pursues
,
That
read
and
comment
upon
News
;
He
takes
up
Their
mysterious
Face
:
He
drinks
his
Coffee
without
Lace
.
This
Week
his
Mimic-Tongue
runs
o'er
What
They
have
said
the
Week
before
.
His
Wisdom
sets
all
Europe
right
;
And
teaches
Marlbrô
when
to
Fight
.
Or
if
it
be
his
Fate
to
meet
With
Folks
who
have
more
Wealth
than
Wit
;
He
loves
cheap
Port
,
and
double
Bub
;
And
settles
in
the
Hum-Drum
Club
.
He
learns
how
Stocks
will
Fall
or
Rise
;
Holds
Poverty
the
greatest
Vice
;
Thinks
Wit
the
Bane
of
Conversation
;
And
says
,
that
Learning
spoils
a
Nation
.
But
if
,
at
first
,
He
minds
his
Hits
,
And
drinks
Champaign
among
the
Wits
;
Five
deep
,
He
toasts
the
tow'ring
Lasses
;
Repeats
you
Verses
wrote
on
Glasses
;
Is
in
the
Chair
;
prescribes
the
Law
;
And
Lies
with
Those
he
never
saw
.