A courtier, summon'd hence of late, <br />Was call'd to Minos' Judgment Seat. <br /> <br />The Cretan Sage began the Charge, <br />Recounted all his Crimes at large; <br />His Insincerity, and Pride, <br />His Hundred evil Arts beside; <br />Arts, thinly veil'd with Virtue's Guise, <br />The modern Statesmens Scheme to rise. <br /> <br />He, cringing, owns his Guilt, with Shame; <br />Yet from himself would shift the Blame; <br />Insists, that since the World began, <br />Kings seldom rais'd the virtuous Man: <br />(Some Instances must be allow'd, <br />Tho' almost lost in such a Croud) <br />That Courts were other Things of late, <br />Than when he rul'd the Cretan State: <br />That those who breathe in them, will find, <br />The tainted Air corrupts the Mind. <br /> <br />Courtier, the Judge reply'd, beware-- <br />Theander has resided there; <br />The third of an accomplish'd Race, <br />Who fill'd successively one Place: <br />Yet see the Stream of Virtue run, <br />Untainted down from Sire to Son: <br />Humane their Hearts, enlarg'd, refin'd, <br />With ev'ry Gift to bless their Kind; <br />In Friendship's noblest Zeal sincere; <br />In Honour amiably severe; <br />Steady to Faith, and Truth, and Right; <br />With open Honesty, polite; <br />With no Disguise in Sptech, or Spirit, <br />But Modesty, the Mask of Merit. <br /> <br />True, Minos--yet you must agree, <br />These Instances conclude for me. <br />They uncorrupt have brearh'd that Air; <br />But how have they succeeded there?<br /><br />Mary Barber<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/newsffrom-st-james-s/
