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Behold this Work, whose Praise I justly claim,
And make, Unrival'd, this Pretence to Fame:
In vain you bid the tow'ring Head ascend,
By various Rows of stiff'ning Wire sustain'd,
Unless, by this, you Guard the lighter Part,
Which, weak by Nature, needs the help of Art;
All Ages past are with Examples fraught,
And long Experience has this Lesson taught;
The firmest Superstructure must decay,
When e'er the solid Basis sinks away;
A May-Pole will not like a Church endure,
And Ships without their Ballast never Sail secure.
And make, Unrival'd, this Pretence to Fame:
In vain you bid the tow'ring Head ascend,
By various Rows of stiff'ning Wire sustain'd,
Unless, by this, you Guard the lighter Part,
Which, weak by Nature, needs the help of Art;
All Ages past are with Examples fraught,
And long Experience has this Lesson taught;
The firmest Superstructure must decay,
When e'er the solid Basis sinks away;
A May-Pole will not like a Church endure,
And Ships without their Ballast never Sail secure.
This Doctrine ev'ry prudent Nymph allow'd,
And joint Applauses eccho'd from the Crowd:
And joint Applauses eccho'd from the Crowd:
As
